Bethel Community Celebrates a Flag Raising

When the flagpole at Bethel’s Lexington Meadow condo community was moved to a more central location, it was apparent that the old U.S. and Connecticut flags had become very frayed and needed to be replaced by new ones. This became an opportunity to hold a flag-raising ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 29, that would become a lesson in civics for young and old as well as time for fun.

Special guest Matt Knickerbocker, Bethel’s First Selectman, spoke on the history of the U.S. flag and reminded his audience that voting is one of the most important ways we can participate in our democracy. Dr. Pat Cosentino, superintendent of New Fairfield Public Schools and former principal of Bethel High School, provided additional color about the flag and led the audience in singing “God Bless America.”

Three members of American Legion Post 100 in Bethel then lowered the old and raised the new flags: Rich Godfrey, commander, and two past commanders, Skip Klapp and Tom Peters. Bagpiper John Chalmers, playing “She’s a Grand Old Flag” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” piped the new flags up the pole as everyone stood in respect.

All took place under the threat of a rain that never came. And once the clouds dispersed, the new flags, in their front-and-center location, looked beautiful against the blue sky.

Caption: Members of American Legion Post 100 lower the old (left) and raise the new flags.