Flag Day’s 75th

Flag Day will be back better than ever  for its 75th anniversary after festivities were canceled by organizers last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

This year’s Sunday, June 13, celebration is being coordinated by National Flag Day Foundation organizer David “D.J.” Janik, son of the late Jack Janik, who is credited with reviving the annual event and securing congressional recognition of Waubeka as the birthplace of Flag Day. 

Janik said he is honored to coordinate and carry on the celebration after his father’s death, particularly for the event’s landmark 75th anniversary. 

“It’s an honor for me, and it’s an honor  to work with the group of volunteers we’ve assembled,” he said.

“Jack worked endlessly on this, and without our volunteers, there’s no way this could happen.”

Janik said the National Flag Day Foundation will be coordinating a tribute to Jack Janik, although details have not yet been solidified. 

In addition to the tribute, new aspects of the celebration this year include a food stand operated by the American Legion, new Family Day activities, fresh musical acts and a shuttle to transport festival-goers to activities at the Americanism Center, Ozaukee County Pioneer Village and Stony Hill School throughout the day. 

“We’re really looking forward to some different, exciting things,” Janik said. 

Flag Day festivities will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Americanism Center, W4200 Valleyview Dr., in Waubeka, with a musical prelude by the Oshkosh Veterans of Foreign Wars Band. 

A flag-raising ceremony will begin at noon, after which the Flag Day essay winners will be announced and Boy Scout awards distributed.  

The annual parade through Waubeka starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Americanism Center and ends at the VFW Post 7037 hall. 

Following the parade, Family Day activities will begin, including the 4-H bake sale, face painting, a brat fry, pony rides and a huge sandpile filled with hidden coins for children. 

Live music will continue from 6 p.m. to dusk, after which a “second to none” fireworks display will begin. 

Flag Day is observed annually on June 14 to commemorate the adoption of the U.S. flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

In preparation for the event, Janik said the Waubeka Fire Department has installed new flags throughout the Town of Fredonia. 

The Chief Waubeka Historical Trail is also being cleared and improved, he added. 

Janik said he isn’t sure how many people will  attend this year’s Flag Day celebration but estimates the turnout will be large. 

In previous years the event has drawn crowds of about 4,000. 

With Flag Day and many other events canceled last year, Janik said he expects there to be great interest in attending the event this year. 

“It’s time to have a little resurgence, a little patriotism,” he said. 

While it was disappointing festivities had to be compressed into a virtual ceremony last year, Janik said he was proud area residents gathered together on Flag Day for an unofficial parade.