Rochester Elks celebrate Flag Day with guest from PNSY

Rochester Elks Exalted Ruler Matt Sanborn, left, with Navy Commander Jeffrey Smith who is currently the Executive Officer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The Rochester Elks conducted its annual Flag Day Services at 7 p.m. in the Lodge Hall at 295 Columbus Ave.

Some 50 people were in attendance. Lodge officers performing the service were assisted by members of the Rochester, N.H., Emblem Club #40 which carried and presented the Flags used in the ceremony. Light refreshments were served after the service. Chairman for the event was Tom Ducharme, Past Exalted Ruler and current Lodge Trustee.

Highlight of the evening was the guest speaker, US Navy Commander Jeffrey Smith, a Long Beach, Calif., native who currently serves as the Executive Officer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Commander Smith delivered a very thoughtful and emotional presentation of how the American Flag has been an inspiration to him throughout his personal and professional life as an Officer in the Navy.