Americanism
Americanism: What it means to us
The ambition and goal of Americanism is to quicken the spirit of American patriotism and to stimulate an awareness - a genuine feeling of pride and respect toward patriotism - so that we as Members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will become constant reminders to the people of our Nation that America truly means freedom and that Elks Care Elks Share.
Flag Day Ceremonies
Each year on Flag Day (June), officers and members from the local lodges celebrate the freedom our flag represents. Often, there are local Flag Day ceremonies held in the community in which Elks members sponsor and/or participate. Contact your local lodge for dates, times and events.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Elks hold sacred the Pledge of Allegiance and conduct it at the beginning of each and every meeting. We have developed a cartoon video to help educate kids on the Pledge of Allegiance. You can either link to a copy of it on You Tube or download a copy that you can then burn to a CD. Below are links to both options.
Click here to view it on You Tube. Note: The video is not searchable from within You Tube. You must know/have the link to access it. Right Click and Save As...here to download a copy.
The late comedian Red Skelton shares his views of the American pledge of allegiance to the flag, recorded back in 1969, on his CBS television series "The Red Skelton Show". Here's a link to the video on YouTube.
Americanism Essay Contest
Each year the Elks sponsor an essay contest on topics relating to Americanism. The topic for 2022-2023 is "What is your American Dream?" We've included the winning essays from last year's contest below. If you and/or your school wish to get more information on our contest, please contact your local lodge and they can assist you. For local lodges looking for contest information please visit our State Committees section under Member Resources from the top navigation.
The ambition and goal of Americanism is to quicken the spirit of American patriotism and to stimulate an awareness - a genuine feeling of pride and respect toward patriotism - so that we as Members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will become constant reminders to the people of our Nation that America truly means freedom and that Elks Care Elks Share.
Flag Day Ceremonies
Each year on Flag Day (June), officers and members from the local lodges celebrate the freedom our flag represents. Often, there are local Flag Day ceremonies held in the community in which Elks members sponsor and/or participate. Contact your local lodge for dates, times and events.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Elks hold sacred the Pledge of Allegiance and conduct it at the beginning of each and every meeting. We have developed a cartoon video to help educate kids on the Pledge of Allegiance. You can either link to a copy of it on You Tube or download a copy that you can then burn to a CD. Below are links to both options.
Click here to view it on You Tube. Note: The video is not searchable from within You Tube. You must know/have the link to access it. Right Click and Save As...here to download a copy.
The late comedian Red Skelton shares his views of the American pledge of allegiance to the flag, recorded back in 1969, on his CBS television series "The Red Skelton Show". Here's a link to the video on YouTube.
Americanism Essay Contest
Each year the Elks sponsor an essay contest on topics relating to Americanism. The topic for 2022-2023 is "What is your American Dream?" We've included the winning essays from last year's contest below. If you and/or your school wish to get more information on our contest, please contact your local lodge and they can assist you. For local lodges looking for contest information please visit our State Committees section under Member Resources from the top navigation.
2021-2022 Winning Essays - What Does It Mean To Love Your Country?
This year's winning essay from Division I (5th/6th graders) is from Sienna Y from Red Wing Lodge #845.
She heard the birds chirping as she awoke for the day. She checked the weather; it was beautiful and the air was fresh. It was warm for late May and perfect for what she had planned. She picked out her favorite pair of shorts and a t-shirt and hurried down the stairs to meet her grandpa at his truck in her driveway. Today was the day they would go to the cemetery and place the American flags by the headstones of all the veterans who have served our country.
When they arrived at the cemetery, she gave a card to her grandpa. It was a thank you card for being in the military to defend our country. His face beamed with pride and so did hers. As she placed the flags in the holders for the veterans, she read their names on the headstones and said a quiet thank you. That night before she went to bed, she closed her eyes and prayed. She thanked the Lord for all she had and for the people who fought and continue to fight for our country and the freedoms that this country has allowed her to have.
The girl in this story is me. This annual Memorial Day tradition with my grandpa is a small thing that I can do to serve my community and express my gratitude for what others before me have done for this country where I live and can be free. That is what loving your country means to me.
This year's winning essay from Division I (7th/8th graders) is from Cali V from Worthington Lodge #2287.
What does it mean to love your country? Everyone’s answer to it could be different. What I think loving your country means is that you’re proud of it, but not afraid to fix the problems, that you show patriotism, and you are part of a community.
Loving your country means being proud of it, but not afraid to change it. Barack Obama said, “In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.” That quote is relevant to this topic because if you love your country, you’re willing to change it. There are
many things to be proud of in a country, but every place has struggles. We need to be subservient people. To love your country, you need to be willing to help.
Patriotism is a big part of loving your country. In fact, patriotism is the definition of loving your country. It means celebrating the holidays and wearing the colors of your country. Patriotism is not just fitting in, but it is also acting how you want your country to be remembered. You are representing your country, so if you act kind and helpful, your country could be seen as kind and helpful.
Loving your country is also about unity. No hate. We all need to be a community and love one another. After all, “…it’s the people who make the nation great, not the land.” – (McCusker 52). Benevolent, meaning a kind person, is a good adjective to describe how we should act. If we are benevolent, we will have unity.
In my opinion, being proud of your country, showing patriotism, and being part of a community, means loving your country. Your country is your home, no matter what country you’re in!
This year's winning essay from Division I (5th/6th graders) is from Sienna Y from Red Wing Lodge #845.
She heard the birds chirping as she awoke for the day. She checked the weather; it was beautiful and the air was fresh. It was warm for late May and perfect for what she had planned. She picked out her favorite pair of shorts and a t-shirt and hurried down the stairs to meet her grandpa at his truck in her driveway. Today was the day they would go to the cemetery and place the American flags by the headstones of all the veterans who have served our country.
When they arrived at the cemetery, she gave a card to her grandpa. It was a thank you card for being in the military to defend our country. His face beamed with pride and so did hers. As she placed the flags in the holders for the veterans, she read their names on the headstones and said a quiet thank you. That night before she went to bed, she closed her eyes and prayed. She thanked the Lord for all she had and for the people who fought and continue to fight for our country and the freedoms that this country has allowed her to have.
The girl in this story is me. This annual Memorial Day tradition with my grandpa is a small thing that I can do to serve my community and express my gratitude for what others before me have done for this country where I live and can be free. That is what loving your country means to me.
This year's winning essay from Division I (7th/8th graders) is from Cali V from Worthington Lodge #2287.
What does it mean to love your country? Everyone’s answer to it could be different. What I think loving your country means is that you’re proud of it, but not afraid to fix the problems, that you show patriotism, and you are part of a community.
Loving your country means being proud of it, but not afraid to change it. Barack Obama said, “In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.” That quote is relevant to this topic because if you love your country, you’re willing to change it. There are
many things to be proud of in a country, but every place has struggles. We need to be subservient people. To love your country, you need to be willing to help.
Patriotism is a big part of loving your country. In fact, patriotism is the definition of loving your country. It means celebrating the holidays and wearing the colors of your country. Patriotism is not just fitting in, but it is also acting how you want your country to be remembered. You are representing your country, so if you act kind and helpful, your country could be seen as kind and helpful.
Loving your country is also about unity. No hate. We all need to be a community and love one another. After all, “…it’s the people who make the nation great, not the land.” – (McCusker 52). Benevolent, meaning a kind person, is a good adjective to describe how we should act. If we are benevolent, we will have unity.
In my opinion, being proud of your country, showing patriotism, and being part of a community, means loving your country. Your country is your home, no matter what country you’re in!
