Gouverneur celebrates Flag Day with parade, park activities

GOUVERNEUR — Residents celebrated Flag Day on Saturday with a parade down Main Street and activities in the village park.

"The purpose of our gathering here today is to salute our American flag and how it stands as a symbol of our rights," said Gale C. Ferguson, a director of the Greater Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the annual event. "We've been doing this for 30, 35 years at least."

Flag Day, June 14, was established in 1907 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which later prompted President Woodrow Wilson to recognize the fraternal order for its patriotism. In 1949, President Harry S. Truman, himself an Elk, proclaimed the day worthy of national observance.

Gouverneur Elks had a special ceremony before the parade to explain the flag's history.

"They had the parade originally and the Chamber helped them," Mr. Ferguson said. "They're a big part of it."

The parade included three bands and 10 floats, about the usual number that participates, but the number of vendors in the park increased this year. The Gouverneur Museum hosted a counted cross-stitch and crewel embroidery exhibit.

"It's turning into a daylong event," Mr. Ferguson said. "We're pleased because it brought 1,500 people into Gouverneur for the day."

The Chamber may have the parade in the evening in the future.

"We'd still have activities during the day to draw people in," Mr. Ferguson said.

The event is often a tradition for those who attend.

James R. Hutton, Gouverneur, waved enthusiastically to his 5-year-old daughter, Cheyenne Rose, as she rode by on a float, but she was too absorbed in other things to notice him.

Mr. Hutton has come to the parade since he was a child himself.

"You recognize everybody," he said. "Everybody's just aged a little."

Sandra J. Bates, Gouverneur, had several reasons to watch the floats.

"My granddaughter's in it for prekindergarten. My husband happened to drive the Kinney car," she said. "Whenever they have one, we've brought our kids, now the grandkids."

Twelve-year-old Brian W. Smith has a tradition of his own started. He comes every year, including one year when he marched as part of a contingent of skateboarders.

"It's just seeing what it's like and who's in it," he said.