Flag Day organizers hold out hope for annual celebration
National Flag Day organizers are hoping the annual patriotic celebration will still occur in some form despite current prohibition of public events due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, according to an announcement on social media last week.
“We are confident that in some way Flag Day 2020 will be honored and celebrated,” National Flag Day President David Janik said in the announcement, which was posted online Friday, April 24.
“It is unknown what the status for public gatherings will be on June 14,” when the event is scheduled to be held, Janik wrote. “Therefore, the National Flag Day Foundation plans are unclear.”
In a telephone interview, Janik wouldn’t elaborate.
“We don’t know anything at this time. We just have to let this terrible situation we’re in play out,” he said.
“We’ll do everything we can” to make the event happen.
This year’s celebration would be the first since its longtime leader Jack Janik, David Janik’s father, died last October.
Jack Janik had led the group since the mid-1990s and was credited for reviving the annual celebration and getting congressional recognition of Waubeka as the birthplace of Flag Day.
If the Flag Day celebration is canceled, commenters on Facebook said they would help organize an unofficial one.
“We may have to have our own distancing parade and party,” one woman told a friend.
“Oh, I definitely think we could come up with something,” the friend replied.
“I’ll make sure there’s a parade,” another chimed in.
“We’re making a batch of Flag Day punch,” a fourth person offered.
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