Flag Day is an important moment of remembrance in the United States, especially for those who fought for it.

The Ephrata-Reading Elks Lodge No. 115 and Lancaster Elks No. 134 will host its annual Flag Day ceremony on Sunday, June 14, at 1 p.m. The event will be held at Faithful Living Home, 2015 N. Reading Road, Denver.

This year's event holds extra value for a multitude of reasons. Along with it being America's 250th anniversary this summer, Faithful Living has nearly two dozen veterans living at the facility, including 101-year-old World War II veteran John Fry, originally from Brecknock Township and Reamstown.

"I really wanted this to be something special," said Pat Conner, exalted ruler of Lodge No. 115. "The importance of this ceremony to our organization is one thing ... (the veterans) will get the most out of the service. They understand what the flag means to be an American."

The ceremony will detail the history of the American flag, all the way from the "Don't Tread on Me" flag used during the American Revolution to today's 50-star star-spangled banner.

Local Elks lodges throughout the country and in U.S. territories will celebrate Flag Day on June 14. The Elks are the only fraternal organization to require observance of Flag Day.

The Elks began requiring this in 1911, five years before President Woodrow Wilson established the day by proclamation in 1916, and nearly four decades before President Harry Truman (an Elks member) signed a bill that made the day a national observance.

According to their website, the Elks "invest in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meet the needs of today's veterans, and improve the quality of life."

The Elks have made more than $12 billion in donations since the organization formed in 1868 out of New York City. There are almost 2,000 Elks lodges in the nation, with a total membership of about 750,000.

Lodge No. 115 is heavily involved in the community, making large contributions to Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center and to a program that provides nurses to those with special needs.

For more information about the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, visit http://www.elks.org. To learn about Lodge No. 115 and 134, search for "Ephrata-Reading Elks Lodge #115" and "Lancaster Elks Lodge #134" on Facebook.

"I really just want them to walk away feeling proud of their country," Conner said. "It's about understanding what the flag really represents; it's the sacrifices made for our freedom."