Batavia Flag Day: Bring out the red, white and blue

This is the weekend to pull out your red, white and blue and to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson's proclamation making June 14 the official day to recognize the American Flag.

Flag Day has a special significance to Batavians, since Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand, a former resident, was instrumental in getting President Wilson's support.

Cigrand came to the United States with his parents from Luxembourg in 1852. The family settled in Wisconsin and a young Cigrand took a teaching job at Stony Hill School in Waubeka, Wisconsin, in 1885. Like him, his students were all children of immigrants. They came from a number of different countries and knew little about America.

To unite these students, Cigrand gave them a sense of national identity and a symbol to believe in. It was a small 10-inch American flag emblazoned with 38 stars. It sat on the corner of his desk to remind the students about their new country. He asked his students to write essays answering the question, "What the American Flag means to Me?"

Cigrand celebrated the flag's "birthday" on June 14, which was the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of the stars and stripes by Congress.

With the money he earned from teaching, Cigrand was able to enroll at Lake Forest College of Dentistry, graduating first in his class in 1888.

Even though he had a new career, he remained passionate about creating a national Flag Day. He wrote magazine and newspaper articles and gave lectures promoting Flag Day. Soon, schools across the country embraced the idea of Flag Day. Under the auspices of the American Flag Day Association, Cigrand organized the first general public school celebration in Illinois with more than 100,000 children participating. Two years later, the numbers soared to more than 300,000.

Cigrand moved to Batavia in 1913 and opened a dental practice in the lower level of his home. In 1920, he moved his office to Aurora. Cigrand continued to live in Batavia until 1932.

His love for his country and the American Flag was extraordinary. He is considered by many to be the "Father of Flag Day."

"If Bernard J. Cigrand was alive today, he would be so pleased to see what is happening in Batavia," said Flag Day Committee member Shirley Mott. "People have decorated their homes in red, white and blue, and many downtown store windows are beautifully decorated as well."

The city is gearing up for a celebration like none other. On Sunday, June 12, there will be an old-fashioned ice cream social from 3 to 7 p.m., with a human flag forming on Houston Street.

This will be a chance to be a part of history since the city has arranged for photos to be taken. And there will be an old-fashioned soap box derby race to kick things off. Then it's Riverwalk time with entertainment on the main stage and plenty of nostalgic games for families to participate in. There will be hot dogs, ice cream, a red, white and blue marketplace of handcrafted items and more raffle items than you can count. All proceeds from Sunday's celebration benefit the Batavia Fireworks Fund.

On Tuesday, June 14, the community celebrates Flag Day with a different type of celebration. During the day, people are welcome to stop in at the Depot Museum to see some special exhibits. There will also be four tours at Batavia's own flag manufacturing facility, FlagSource.

"We are so happy to have FlagSource in Batavia and grateful that they are offering four tours on the 100th anniversary of Flag Day," Mott said. "This is quite an opportunity for people to see a working manufacturer and view flags being made."

The tours take place at 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 5 p.m. and are free. Organizers do encourage attendees to donate to the Batavia 100th Anniversary of Flag Day. A committee member will attend each tour to give more information about the evening festivities at the Batavia Riverwalk and to facilitate donations.

Because only 25 people can tour at one time, those interested should sign up for their preferred time on the Batavia Flag Day website, or by emailing info@bataviaflagday.com. Each tour will take 30 to 45 minutes.

FlagSource will also be offering a special flag just for the Batavia celebration.

On Tuesday, from 7 to 9 p.m., the mood becomes much more patriotic, with a performance by the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest and the Batavia Patriotic Pop-Up Chorus.

Singers can sign up on Facebook at "Batavia Patriotic Pop Up Chorus" or just show up for the rehearsal at the Methodist Church at 7 p.m. Monday, June 13. You don't have to live in Batavia to participate.

Like Cigrand's students, writers in Batavia and the surrounding communities took on the task of answering, "What the American Flag Means to Me?" The winners will read their essays Tuesday night.

There will be presentations about Dr. Cigrand and Batavia's flag day story, along with the reveal of the Flag Day Memorial plans.

To commemorate the year when the Continental Congress adopted our national flag, 1,777 luminarias, decorated by Batavia elementary students, will line the Riverwalk. The evening will end with the retiring of the colors.

Plan now to attend this historic event. Put on your red, white and blue, and head down to the Riverwalk for two events that are sure to leave a lasting memory.

Visit bataviaflagday.com for details.

If you go

What: Batavia Flag Day Celebration

When: Ice cream social to benefit Batavia Fireworks Fund, 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 12; Flag Day concert/presentation, 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 14

Where: Batavia's Riverwalk, 100 N. Island Ave.

Admission: Free; ice cream sundaes, $3

Details: <a href="http://bataviaflagday.com/">BataviaFlagDay.com</a>