Columbus Day is a national holiday to commemorate the October 12, 1492 landing of Christopher Columbus in what was then called the "new world".
And, since it is a national holiday, we here in the USA are encouraged to display the flag everyday (if possible) but in particular on national and state holidays. According to the American Flag Foundation, Inc, the flag code has listed 22 days that our flag should be displayed which include Columbus Day, the 2nd Monday in October.
In this edition of the Flag Subscription Newsletter, we would like to share some interesting facts about how this national holiday came to be.
How Columbus Day became a national holiday
The first celebration of Columbus Day in the US took place on October 12, 1792. Organized by the Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order, it commemorated the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ landing.
The 400th anniversary of the event inspired the first official Columbus Day holiday in the United States.
President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation in 1892, “recommending to the people the observance in all their localities of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America…” and describing Columbus as “the pioneer of progress and enlightenment.”
In the decades that followed, the Knights of Columbus, an international Roman Catholic fraternal benefit society, lobbied state legislatures to declare October 12 a legal holiday. Colorado and New York were first states to commenorate the occasion in 1909 and 1912 respectively.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designated Columbus Day (then celebrated October 12) a national holiday in 1934.
Since 1971, when Columbus Day was designated the second Monday in October, it has been celebrated as a federal holiday. Of course this year Oct 12th is the second Monday of October.
Subscribers can expect to see their flags installed for Columbus Day on or about October 10th. Our scouting partners at BSA Troop 9168 will start removing the flags on or about October 18th and taking them to our storage facility.
If you have questions about our flag program, please click Flag Program information below. You will also see links that our flag chair e-mail on the information page.
A portion of the flags subscription cost is shared with BSA Troop 9168 to defray the cost of scouting events such as scout camp outs and jamborees.
According to Lewisville Rotary Member and Charter Rep. Jeff Lighton, BSA Troop 9168 is an extremely busy troop. Aside from the customary scouting activities, they also perform a number of service projects throughout Lewisville. For example:
Troop is coming along side Veterans Produce at the community garden in Lewisville to help with hydroponic raising of vegetables for the Salvation Army here in town.
Upcoming events of interest is the Old Hall Cemetery clean up in November and the Wreaths Across America project on December 19th.
BSA Troop 9168 is very proud of one of their scouts that is working on an Eagle Scout project for Old Hall Cemetery that will be completed in December.
Do you know a youngster that might be interested in scouting? Click here to visit their website. Inquiries are always welcome. Click here for contact information.
Special Offer for our current subscribers
Our subscribers are justifiably proud of the flag our team places in their front yard during the patriotic holidays. We are prouder still when we can drive through neighborhoods lined with flags at the curb.
The Lewisville Area Flag program now includes a special offer for all of our existing subscribers. When our subscriber recommends our flag program to a friend or neighbor and that person subscribes, using you as the person that told then about the program we will add one additional flag holiday to your flag subscription year.
Simple ask them to click "current subscriber" in the Contact Information" part of the form. When the Name of Contact form comes up, ask them to insert your name. Simply e-mail your neighbors and friends the subscription link form below.
Please consider stopping by the Hero Car Wash, 101 Continental Drive in Lewisville on Sunday October 18, 2020 between 9 AM and 6 PM. Get your car washed and meet a few of our members.
Hero Car Wash is donating 30% of its proceeds for the day to the Lewisville Morning Rotary End Polio Now fund.
Interested In Helping Our Community?
Join us in one of our Thursday Morning Club Meetings, and find out more about our Rotary club! Right now we are meeting via Zoom instead of our in-person meetings. Be our Guest.
Meeting Time: 8:00 AM
Meeting Dates in September and October: 9/10, 9/17, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15
Check out our Lewisville Area Flags Facebook page. Please "like" the page and share with your friends and neighbors. Our Facebook page provides periodic updates about our flag subscription program as well as provides a place for our subscribers to share photo's of "Old Glory" flying in your front yard.
