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FLAG DAY NO LONGER CONSIDERED BANNER EVENT.


Byline: DENNIS MCCARTHY

She's stuck between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution.  and lives in the shadow of Father's Day this Sunday.

Flag Day - when we're supposed to pay homage to Old Glory.

Add the mammoth Lakers celebration planned for today in downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or , and it's pretty tough to ignore the truth: The Stars and Stripes Stars and Stripes

nickname for the U.S. flag. [Am. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 8567]

See : America
 will be running a poor second to Shaq and Kobe.

Flag Day - which celebrates the day in 1777 when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States - has become the stepchild step·child  
n.
1. A child of one's spouse by a previous union.

2. Something that does not receive appropriate care, respect, or attention: "Demography has a reputation for being the stepchild of . . .
 of patriotic holidays.

It's around, but nobody pays it much mind.

After President Wilson proclaimed such a day in 1916 and President Truman signed an act of Congress in 1949 officially recognizing June 14 as Flag Day, patriotic organizations held parades every year, and schools had big assemblies so the kids could learn the origin and meaning of the flag.

Good luck finding that today. I couldn't when I went looking for Looking for

In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with.
 Flag Day activities.

Plenty of Lakers flags flying and parties planned, but not one parade or patriotic event in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley

Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills.
 just for the Stars and Stripes.

I'm sure there are some sharp teachers who will be talking to their students for a few minutes about the flag, but no big school assemblies were planned that I could find.

Nothing special over at the Sepulveda VA, and no parades or special activities from service and patriotic groups, either - which is a surprise.

You'd think if anyone would be celebrating Flag Day, it would be the people who carry Old Glory around with them in their hearts every day of the year.

They'll be proudly flying the flag from their porches today, they say, but that's about it.

The closest activity I could find was at the Canoga Park Elks Lodge, where Pete DeSantis and a few of the guys were putting their big flags away Thursday after having Flag Day activities early - last Sunday - with local Boy Scout Troop 99.

The Elks and the Scouts held the fourth annual Community Flag Retirement Ceremony in which worn-out and tattered flags are given a ceremonial burial by fire.

Says something when the only Flag Day ceremony you can find isn't on Flag Day and is being held to retire old flags, not fly them.

``People used to remember the day, but now it kind of gets lost around Father's Day,'' said John Graves, a World War II vet, who serves as a color guard at patriotic gatherings in the Valley with some of his buddies from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10040 in Sun Valley.

They're not having anything special at the VFW See Video for Windows.  post today, and nobody called Graves wanting the color guard to carry Old Glory in any ceremonies around the Valley.

``It's kind of sad,'' said Graves, who fought at the Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Bulge, popular name in World War II for the German counterattack in the Ardennes, Dec., 1944–Jan., 1945. It is also known as the Battle of the Ardennes. On Dec. . ``The schools used to call us once in a while, but not anymore.''

Elaine McNown, a member of the Gold Star Wives The Gold Star Wives of America was formed before the end of World War II to provide support for the spouses and children of those who lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. , said she asked the young adults and kids in her neighborhood last Flag Day whether they knew why she was putting the flag out.

``Nobody knew what day it was - not one,'' she said.

It doesn't surprise former Marine Howard Furst. He's an expert on flags, starting the AAA AAA: see American Automobile Association.


(Triple A) A common single-cell battery used in a myriad of electronic devices of all variety. Like its double A (AA) cousin, it provides 1.5 volts of DC power. When used in series, the voltage is multiplied.
 Flag & Banner Manufacturing Co. in his garage 20 years ago and growing it to 10 stores in Los Angeles now Wikipedia is not the place for advertisement or self-advertising. Los Angeles Now, a documentary by Producer/Director Phillip Rodriguez, made its national high definition broadcast premiere on PBS’ Independent Lens series in November 2004. , including one in Sherman Oaks.

It's a coastal thing, he said. ``Flag Day's a big deal back East where people are more patriotic. But out here on the West Coast there's not that much patriotism,'' he said.

``You look at the houses and businesses back East today, and there'll be a flag flying from every one of them. Not out here. Check it out.''

Yeah, check it out driving around today. See how many flags are flying from front porches and businesses on Flag Day.

And then let the sad truth sink in.

The Stars and Stripes are running a poor second to Shaq and Kobe.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Pete DeSantis of the Canoga Park Elks Lodge carries one of the Old Glory versions that predated the current appearance of the Stars and Stripes. The lodge maintains a collection for patriotic and educational programs.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer
COPYRIGHT 2002 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2002, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Jun 14, 2002
Words:727
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