Holley continues Flag Day tradition

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 12 June 2015 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – Mid-morning downpours Friday forced Holley Elementary students to move their annual Flag Day ceremonies inside, but the wet weather didn’t dampen their spirit.

Instead of parading from the school to the railroad depot on Geddes Street Extension in the village, students, their teachers, friends and family members paraded through school hallways to the gymnasium while patriotic songs played over the public address system.

Flag Day is officially observed June 14, but this year the holiday falls on a Sunday, so the annual event at Holley Elementary was today.

Following the “parade” the gymnasium became a sea of red, white and blue and ceremonies included the “Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,” the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner,” performances of patriotic music by members of the Holley Elementary Band and Chorus, the presentation of annual “Good Citizenship” Awards to students.

Holley Community Free Library Director Sandra Shaw thanks students for their donation from the “Raise the Roof Fund” during annual Flag Day ceremonies at the school Friday morning. Members of the Holley Elementary Student Council raised $1424.21 to help the library pay for a new roof. A check was presented to the library
during the ceremonies.

Student Council advisor and Holley Elementary vocal music teacher Sally Martin says funds were raised in several different ways including collection containers set up by students around the village and a literary-themed scavenger hunt around the school for words which form famous quotes from books. The money will go to help pay for a new roof for the library.

This was the 58th annual celebration of Flag Day by students at Holley Central Elementary School. According to www.usflag.org, Flag Day is believed to have originated in 1885 at a public school in Wisconsin as “Flag Birthday,” because June 14 is the anniversary of the adoption of the Flag Resolution of 1777 which designated the Stars and Stripes as the US flag.

Holley Elementary 5th grader John Patt performs with the Elementary Band during Flag Day ceremonies at the school on Friday morning.

A number of Holley Elementary students were honored Friday morning during the annual Flag Day celebration with Good Citizenship Awards, and. each received a patriotic T-shirt.