Flags

Hagerstown Children’s School held its annual flag parades on May 11 and 12. All students participated in making a flag of the country of their choice. In class, they spoke about the country they chose and gave one or two facts about that country to their classmates. Parents, grandparents and siblings were invited to attended the flag parades, where the children marched around the courtyard proudly displaying their flags. The students at Hagerstown Children’s School study a different country each month in their classrooms and look forward to this educational and fun event.

The American Legion Auxiliary, Antietam Unit 236, will place a collection barrel at the Sharpsburg Town Hall from April 15 to May 21, where residents can place worn American flags for proper disposal. Antietam Unit 236 reminds all Americans that every day is a good day to display an American flag in good condition, but it is especially important to display them on patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, May 30; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, Sept.

The Maugansville Ruritan Club will host an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 6:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Ruritan building on Maugans Avenue.  The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and sausage gravy with juice, coffee and tea. The cost is $5.50 for adults, $3 for children, ages 6 to 12, and free for children ages 5 and younger. This is the final breakfast of the fall/winter season. The next one will be held in September.  Proceeds help support the many programs the Ruritan Club sponsors.

Western Heights Middle School PTSA is holding a garden flag fundraiser. Flag poles are $6 each. Flags are $6 or four for $20. Types of flags being sold are holiday/seasonal, dog breed and initial flags. Flags will be delivered in time for Easter. For more information about the fundraiser or to obtain a brochure, please call 301-739-6681. Comedy tour is coming The Make Me Laugh Comedy Tour will be at Next Dimensions in Hagerstown on Friday. Comics from BET, Comedy Central, Martin Lawrence’s 1st Amendment, Def Jam and Last Comic Standing will be in the house, along with one surprise special guest.

Roger Keller will be the speaker at the Boonsboro Historical Society meeting   Tuesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 64 S. Main St., Boonsboro. The title of his talk is "The Stripes and Stars: Evolution of the American Flag. "    Keller is a longtime Hagerstown area radio broadcaster, a Washington County historian and the author of of six books. Refreshments will be served.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin ordered Wednesday that all United States and West Virginia state flags flown at state facilities throughout the Mountain State be lowered to half-staff in honor of World War I veteran Frank Woodruff Buckles. Buckles died early Sunday at his home in Charles Town, W.Va. He was 110. Flags at state facilities are to be flown at half-staff through sunset on the day of interment at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. "Frank Buckles was our last American connection to the millions who fought in 'The War to End all Wars,'" Tomblin said.

In April, third-grader Ellie Bare entered and won first place in the Pride and Patriotism Art Contest sponsored by Eagles Club 1136 of Brunswick, Md. The prize was $50 and the chance to go on to the national contest. In September, she placed first in the nation for her drawing of an American flag inside the United States with people holding hands surrounding the country. The contest was held for students in grades three to six. Ellie won $200 on the national level. She is also interested in photography.

Several years ago, the descendants of the men who were members of the Irish Brigade from New York and Massachusetts who fought at Antietam during the Civil War asked the Boy Scouts to place flags on the graves at the National Cemetery. Recently, members of Troop 19 in Waynesboro, Pa., paid honor to these soldiers by placing U.S. flags on the graves of 30 Irish Brigade members. The Scouts visited other grave sites at the cemetery and learned of the history of the battle and the significance of remembering fallen soldiers.

Extremely dry conditions and windy weather caused the issuance Wednesday of a Red Flag Warning because of an "explosive" fire threat in 13 counties, including Washington and Frederick counties, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Fire officials urged people to be careful with any outdoor burning, and they said the smallest spark could start a fire under the current conditions. There were several brush fires Wednesday in Washington County, and about eight acres of cut cornfield burned off Leitersburg Pike and Herman Myers Road.

Treasured memories. That's what the Clear Spring 9-10 All-Stars will gain when their latest Little League experience unfolds this weekend. Nine straight wins have put championship flags for District 1 and state titles in Clear Spring -- flags that will eventually hang from the poles at its Little League complex. Clear Spring carries the Maryland banner, beginning its journey at reaching another goal of winning the Eastern Regional on Sunday in an 11 a.m. contest against Delaware in pool play competition.