Flag Day events on tap in holiday’s hometown

Waubeka is hosting two Flag Day celebrations this summer.

The first event to honor Old Glory will be hosted by the National Flag Day Foundation on Sunday, June 8.

The event starts with a welcome at 11 a.m. at the Americanism Center, 4200 Valley View Dr. Veterans can pick up their VIP packages at that time.

The Flag Day program will be held at 11:30 a.m. People may register to win a special silver coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps. The drawing will be held during the program.

Essay contest winners will be announced, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard will participate.

Kettle Moraine Marine Corps. League Chaplain Vanessa Earhart will honor the Marines. National Flag Day Foundation President David Janik will present the Jack Janik Patriotism Award.

Brian Stout of the National Flag Day Foundation will be the master of ceremonies.

Food trucks offering barbecue, burgers and fries, doughnuts, cheese curds, tacos, snacks and more will open at 12:30 p.m. and run until 9 p.m.

A patriotic parade will start at 1:30 p.m. at the center and traverse through downtown Waubeka. The University of Wisconsin-Madison marching band will hold its famous fifth quarter following the parade.

Family events start at 3 p.m. and include a sand hill treasure hunt, inflatable bounce houses, face painting, tattoos and a medal of honor display.

People may walk the five-mile Chief Waubeka Historical Trail, see the tapestry of commemorative bricks in the courtyard or walk through the Avenue of Flags, which showcases 27 versions of the American flag with historical plaques describing each.

The Americanism Center Museum will be open from noon to 5:30 p.m.

Music will be performed at 5 p.m.

Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m.

For more information, visit https://www.flagdayfoundation.com.

Stony Hill to host celebration

The second Flag Day celebration will be hosted by the Ozaukee County Historical Society on Saturday, June 14, at Stony Hill School, N5595 Hwy. I. 

The school and grounds will be open from noon to 4 p.m.

Pioneer Village will offer free admission for an open house from noon to 5 p.m.

A Flag Day program will start at 1 p.m., followed by an ice cream social.

People may interact with the members of the Cigrand family, played by actors.

Flag Day started when Bernard Cigrand on June 14, 1885, placed a 10-inch, 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk at Stony Hill School. The 19-year-old teacher had his students write essays on what the flag meant to them.

President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation recognizing June 14 as Flag Day in 1916.

Interactive family games will be offered, and Pioneer Village will host bluegrass music.