Raising the Flag on a quiet Fourth of July
From staff reports
No parades. No concerts. No fireworks in Leelanau County. This will be a quiet Fourth of July, a time to reflect on our nation, how we’re handling the current pandemic, and where we’re headed. But the Coronavirus hasn’t sacked all local Independence Day traditions. Even though we won’t do so in groups, on Saturday, the flag will be raised, and the Declaration of Independence will be celebrated.
At 10 a.m. on July 4, tune in live to Cherry Republic’s Facebook page and watch the Glen Lake Women’s Club Annual Fourth of July Flag Raising Ceremony at Old Settlers Park on the east side of Big Glen Lake. Pastor Melody Olin from the Empire United Methodist Church will perform the invocation. The Glen Lake Fire Department will raise the Stars and Stripes. Erik Foged, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel from Empire is the guest speaker. Miriam Owsley will sing the National Anthem. The Old Settlers Park flag raising is typically attended by hundreds. But crowds are asked to stay home this year and watch the event live on Facebook.
Also at 10 a.m., volunteers will gather in front of U.S. post offices throughout Leelanau County to read the Declaration of Independence, as has become a tradition. Anyone who gathers nearby to watch the reading is encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing.
The lineup of readers will include Jim Anderson in Glen Arbor, Norm Wheeler and others in Empire, Greg Julian in Maple City, Stella Otto in Cedar, Brody Uzzle in Lake Leelanau, Scott Craig and Carol Bawden in Leland, Phil Mikesell in Northport, Rink Smith in Omena and Tina Greene in Suttons Bay.
Craig, a retired television documentary producer, directed and produced a 10-minute video in 1992 called “Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor” which features Paul Harvey describing what the Declaration of Independence signers sacrificed.
In addition, those interested in participating in the Glen Lake Boat Parade should meet at noon on Saturday in front of the Glen Lake Yacht Club and depart at 12:30 toward the Glen Lake Narrows. The parade will head under the bridge, into Little Glen and out past the boat ramp, then head back under the bridge to Big Glen. Boat decorations are optional but highly encouraged, so get that red, white, and blue swag out.
