FOR RELEASE May 20, 2024
Contact: Linda Schielke, Flag Day Committee Chair
Lschielke@hotmail.com
BATAVIA CELEBRATES FLAG DAY WEEKEND
BATAVIA, Il (May 20, 2024) – The City of Batavia will celebrate its special connection to Flag Day with a celebration 7 – 8:30 p.m., Friday, June 14, at the Peg Bond Center and Batavia Riverwalk, 151 N. Island Ave. Additional activities and local business participation continue throughout the weekend.
The June 14 Flag Day Celebration will include a free concert by the Batavia Community Band, tours of the new Flag Day Monument, and the return of the popular “Human Flag”— where attendees help create the American Flag holding special cardboard signs.
Additional activities include Scouting America games and demonstrations; mural signing for a time capsule; filming thoughts on patriotism; and, brick, coin, and other memorabilia sales.
The Flag Day Celebration is an opportunity to learn about Batavia’s Flag Day Monument. The monument honors the life of longtime Batavia dentist Dr. Bernard Cigrand who was one of the founders of Flag Day. Dr. Cigrand worked tirelessly to promote a day of recognition for the American flag and on June 14, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed such a day throughout the United States. The monument also honors veterans, active military, first responders and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from Illinois.
Saturday, June 15, there will be a Liberty Tree, the first tree dedication in Illinois in preparation for the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence in 2026, AMERICA 250. Local chapters of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution are hosting the event.
Several Downtown Batavia businesses are donating a portion of their sales during the Flag Day weekend to support the Flag Day Monument. Businesses will also offer patriotic items for sale. A of participating businesses, sponsors and other details on the monument and Flag Day festivities will be posted soon on flagdaymonument.com.
