The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2026 #36 6-10-26

VOLUME 2026   JUNE 10   NUMBER 36

Clyde Scott welcomed the membership and guests. The flag salute followed. A recording of the Star Spangled Banner was played; it was a performance by Clyde Scott's grandson for a game at his school. Taps was played by Gary Lloyd. Clyde shared today was to honor the flag, the nation's 250th celebration, and the Optimist members who are no longer with us. Clyde also announced the speaker, Chuck Sexton, who was scheduled be attend the meeting was still without power from the recent storm, had a lot of storm damage, and was unable to attend today. Clyde and Mike Fincham filled in for the speaker.

Mike Fincham noted he was susposed to give the reflection, but since the speaker was unable to attend, he presented them to the group as part of the program.

He noted that Flag Day is a time to honor the flag, celebrate national unity, and reflect on the values of freedom, courage, and patriotism. He then shared several inspirational Flag Day Quotes by famous people.

• “I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.” Bob Dylan
• “Duty, honor, country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be what you will be.” General Douglas MacArthur
• “To survive in peace and harmony, united and strong, we must have one people, one nation, one flag.” Pauline Hanson (Australian politician and founder of Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party)
• “A thoughtful mind, when it sees a nation's flag sees not the flag, but the nation itself.” Henry Ward Beecher (American clergyman, abolitionist, and social reformer)
• “Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong.” James Bryce (British academic, jurist, historian, and liberal politician)
• “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” Adlai Stevenson American politician and diplomat)
• “When we honor our flag, we honor what we stand for as a Nation—freedom, equality, justice, and hope.” Ronald Reagan
• “Our flag is not just one of many political points of view. Rather, the flag is a symbol of our national unity.” Adrian Cronauer (Person that the movie Good Morning Vietnam was based on, American radio personality, and Air Force seargent.
• “Flag Day is the reminder that we all are Americans. We all must be very proud of our country, of our culture, of our flag, which fills our hearts with pride.” Anonymous
• “Happy Flag Day to each and every American. It is a proud day for us and we must celebrate it with zeal!” Anonymous
• Clyde thanked Mike for filling in for the speaker and shared the following story from the American Legion Magazine. The creation of the Eisenhower-approved 50 star American Flag is tied to a high school student project in the 1950s.

“In 1958, Robert Heft, a 17-year-old from Lancaster, Ohio, designed a 50-star American flag for a U.S. history class project. He based it on a 48-star flag his parents had received as a wedding gift, cutting and sewing it to represent the future addition of Alaska and Hawaii. His teacher initially gave him a B-, but two years later, in 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower invited him to Washington, D.C., to present his design at a ceremony where it was officially adopted.

Heft later became a high school teacher, college professor, and mayor of Napoleon, Ohio, before passing away in 2009. His flag became the blueprint for the 50-star banner that has flown over the United States since 1960.

In summary: The Eisenhower-approved 50-star flag was designed by Robert Heft, a high school student in 1958, and officially adopted in 1960 after President Eisenhower invited him to present it in Washington, D.C.”

CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:

Jim Franke announced the field and park maintenance scheduled for Thursday morning needed additional volunteers and fast pitch softball tournament on Saturday needed additional volunteers. He also mentioned the new backstop that replaced one from the 1970's.

Sharon Fincham announced the social committee was planning a bowling social event at the KSU Union bowling alley; the date is yet to be determined.

Clyde announced the Manhattan Optimist Club won the Manhattan Mercury's Reader's Choice Award for best civic organization.

GUESTS: Greg McCune's daughter, Megan McCune, Bryan Joy's wife Cindy, Bruce Bidwell's wife, Pat, and Mary Phelps.

Meeting adjourned with the group moving to the Optimist Park monument and reciting the Optimist Creed.

SAVE THE DATE: October 24th is our 24th annual Chili Crawl.

JUNE 17 – MORNING MEETING: Program: Blaine Burris, K-State Baseball Athletic Trainer: Topic: “K-State Baseball”

JUNE 24 – NOON MEETING: Program: Respect for the Law