RUMFORD — The Rumford Lodge of Elks 862 is holding their annual Flag Day Ceremony on Thursday, June 14, for the people of the greater Rumford area. The ceremony will take place at the Veterans Park at the end of Congress Street starting at 6 p.m. The ceremony will feature historically important flags from our country’s history.

The flag was first authorized by Congress on June 14, 1777, and this date is now observed as Flag Day throughout America. The flag was first flown over Fort Stanwix on August 3, 1777 at the site of the present day city of Rome, NY. It was first decreed there would be a star and stripe for each state, making 13 of both, and this was later changed to simply adding stars as territories were granted statehood over the years. The last two stars were added in 1959 when Alaska and Hawaii became states.

The colors of the flag each have an important meaning: Red is for valor, zeal and fervency; white for hope, purity, cleanliness of life and rectitude of conduct; and blue for heaven, reverence for God, loyalty, sincerity, justice and truth.

In the event of rain, the ceremony will take place in the Elks Lodge Room upstairs. A light lunch will be served at the lodge following the ceremony.