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Emmaus Rotary Club hosts Flag Day celebration in Emmaus Community Park

Published June 24. 2021 12:01AM
by BEVEERLY SPRINGER Special to The Press

This year’s event marked the 52nd Flag Day celebration to be held in Emmaus. Sponsored by the Emmaus Rotary Club, the festivities incorporated participation by community members of all ages and backgrounds.

Former Lehigh County Commissioner Nathan Brown served as master of ceremonies for a program honoring the American Flag in song, poetry, essay and speech.

A children’s quartet composed of Thomas Pojanowski, Lillian Pojanowski, Evelyn Pojanowski and Ava Strachan and backed by Emmaus High School student Zachary Ritter on piano and drums, performed patriotic songs and encouraged audience participation.

Thomas Pojanowski gave a solo rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

The program theme, “What the American Flag Means to Me” provided the focus for the award-winning student poems and essays.

This year’s winners of the fifth grade poetry contest are Addison Lausch, first place; Jasmine Beckles, second place and Matthew Oviedo, third place.

The grade eight essay contest was won by Connor Iyengar, first place; Ella Patterson, second place and Chase Will, third place. Each contestant present read his or her winning entry. Chase Will was not in attendance; therefore, Emmaus Rotary Flag Day Committee member Sue Straeter read his essay. The students provided unique and often innocently profound insights on the significance of the American flag.

Dr. Raymond Fritz Jr. served as the keynote speaker. Fritz is a doctor of podiatric medicine, who between 1973 and 2001 served actively and as a reservist in the U.S. Navy. Fritz views the flag as the all-encompassing symbol of the populace of the United States. He stated, “It [the flag] represents our history: who we are now, and who we will be in the future.”

Award presentations and the inclusion of appropriate community groups balanced out the program. The poetry and essay writers received citations and trophies, local veterans and Scouts advanced and retired the colors and the parents of the winning students as well as the veterans in the audience were recognized.

But the star of the event was the American flag. The closing lines of fifth grader Addison Lausch’s poem capture the sentiment: Stars and stripes; Red, white and blue; My dear America; I love you.

PRESS PHOTOS BY BEVERLY SPRINGER Connor Iyengar takes first place in the essay contest, part of the annual Flag Day celebration in Emmaus June 14.
Addison Lausch captures first prize in the poetry contest.
Jasmine Beckles takes second place in the poetry contest. PRESS PHOTOS BY BEVERLY SPRINGER
Third place in the poetry contest goes to Matthew Oviedo.
LEFT: Zachary Ritter performs on the piano and drums throughout the program.
Dr. Raymond Fritz Jr. gives the keynote speech.
Thomas Pojanowski sings the “Star- Spangled Banner.”
From left to right, Evelyn Pojanoswki, Lillian Pojanowski, Thomas Pojanowski and Ava Strachan perform a “Patriotic Medley.”
ABOVE: From left to right, keynote speaker, Dr. Raymond Fritz Jr.; poetry contest award recipients Addison Lausch, Jasmine Beckles and Matthew Oviedo; essay contest winners Connor Iyengar and Ella Patterson and Judge of the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas and former Pennsylvania House Rep. Douglas Reichley stand together for a photo.
The colors are advanced and retired by members of American Legion Post #191, Marine Corps League Detachment #296, Boy Scout Troop 80 and Pack 25 and Girl Scouts of the Little Lehigh Service Unit 6810 and 635.