The DeKalb Veterans Memorial and the DeKalb Elks Lodge 765 will be hosting a special Flag Day ceremony on Friday, June 14th, 2024. This special presentation will start at 6:00 PM.
NOTE: Due to the number of people and limited seating, we suggest families may want to bring lawn chairs for this event
The evening will start with the singing of the National Anthem by noted DeKalb entertainer Christine Wild Monteiro. Musical selections will also happen to honor Flag Day.
Part of the ceremony will be the importance of the Flag Day presentation by DeKalb Elks Exalted Ruler James Brantley. This event is open to everyone in the community who wants to honor the American Flag.
In addition to the speeches, there will be a special re-dedication of the World War I memorial. A new bench will be premiered honoring the United States Marine Corps sponsored by the Robert Unger Family. This new bench will be showcased on a new concrete pad provided by the Mark Setchell Family. TThe keynote speaker will be US Air Force SMSgt. Jari Villanueva (Retired). Other speeches and honors will occur. Mr. Villanueva was appointed in August of 2023, to be the Executive Director of The Doughboy Foundation, which supports programs, projects, and activities that educate the public about America’s participation in World War I. Mr. Villanueve and The Doughboy Foundation are based in Washington, DC. Before becoming the Executive Director of the World War I Museum, Jari Villanueva started Taps Across America in 2015. The event went national Memorial Day 2020 when featured on CBS News with Steve Hartman.
Jari Villanueva retired from the United States Air Force where he spent 23 years with The USAF Band inWashington DC. He is considered the country’s foremost expert on military bugle calls, particularly the call of Taps which is sounded at military funerals and special military events. His playing of Taps has included locations of National Military Cemeteries, Veteran’s Ceremonies, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
This will be the official celebration for Flag Day for the greater DeKalb area, welcoming members of the community and city officials. Part of the evening event will include acknowledgment of the DeKalb American Legion “Be The One” campaign and information about local veteran support from the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Also information about future events by the DeKalb County Park Recreation organization. In attendance will be members of the DeKalb Scout Troop 33.
Coordinator and creator of the DeKalb Veteran Memorial Michel Embrey said other activities are being reviewed for this occasion. Old military vehicles, a fly-over, and a select collection of World War I posters to be on display.
The DeKalb Elks Lodge will host a social welcome to all in attendance after the ceremony. The Elks Lodge is located at 209 S Annie Glidden Road in DeKalb, Illinois.
To learn more about the DeKalb Elks or membership in the DeKalb Elks, please contact James Brantly at the DeKalb Elks – dekalbelks@yahoo.com – (phone: 815-756-6912)
For more DeKalb Veterans Memorial information, please contact:
Michael Embrey, USAF Veteran – 815-756-1273
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story