By Brooklynn Wong
On a recent sunny Sunday afternoon, Anaheimers congregated in Pearson Park for the 24th time for festivities to celebrate Flag Day.
The June 9 festivities kicked off with a parade, and a program followed.
City Council Member Steve Faessel was Master of Ceremonies. A group of Marines out of Camp Pendleton presented the colors, Miss Anaheim Beautiful Teen Ambassador Leila Santos sang the National Anthem and Anaheim Police Chaplain Nathan Zug prayed over the ceremony.
A young-at-heart tap group called the Dapper Tappers delighted the crowd.
The winners of the “What the American Flag Means to Me” essay contest were recognized.
And the day wrapped up with a barbecue and other refreshments in the park.
Booths also were set up all around the commons, to provide attendees with information about various branches of the military, the city, and the Boy Scouts.
Flag Day itself was this past Friday, June 14. But the City of Anaheim has been holding Flag Day festivities the weekend before ever since 1996, started by Sally Feldhaus, the wife of former Anaheim City Councilman and World War II veteran Frank Feldhaus. She wanted to reignite what she thought were the waning flames of patriotism in the city.
A look across the crowded park would indicate that she has, in many ways, succeeded.
