It was always an honor to be chosen to participate in the flag ceremonies at camp. The tradition of Reveille with the flag-raising, and Taps blown at flag lowering at the end of the night, were tradtions that remained in the memories of the women who participated.“I still remember what an honor and big deal it was to get chosen to raise or lower the flag,” said Jeri Smith (1965)– still puzzled by the selection process.

In the fifties, Janet Dixon recalled; “Each day began with a bugle playing Reveille and the lonesome sound of Taps at lights out.” For Dawn Sohigian (1966-74) it added to the wonderful structure that comprised the days at camp. Others, like Pamela Hartz (1966-75) loved waking up to the sound of the bugle blasting through the camp and the routines and structure that served as her anchor.

“There was a seating area where we would wait for the big bell to ring. We had to be there for flag raising,” said Beverly Schlatter (1944-49). “It was traditional—rain or shine. It was deemed to be quite important and attendance was required.” There were rules that were remembered surrounding the ceremony involving the flag—no bare feet, and coming and going by the bell in the sixties for Mary Obey.

In 1961, the “Loon” read “Independence Day at Camp Maqua” and was celebrated with girls wearing red sashes at flag raising. At one o’clock the camp joined the entire country ringing out the Bells of Freedom. Later that evening, after the flag was lowered, girls paraded in Indian, slave, and soldier costumes and participated in relay races and a picnic.

Debbie Tweedie (1965-72) recalled the one of the highlights involved these rituals and included folding the flag. “Each cabin was selected to do this and I remember practicing how to walk and hold the flag like a real color guard.” Counselor Ann Carney taught the girls fancy ways to fold the flag, which impressed Susan Prieskorn (1968+), who loved that their cabin participated in the ceremony of honor.

“I loved Reveille and Taps and how they taught us to respect the flag,” said Maggie Young (1962-75). “I would not have learned anywhere else and it gave me respect for my country.” “I always liked the raising and lowering of the flag during the ceremonies at camp,” said Linda Greenwald (1948-49). “I would stand with my hand on my heart and pledge, like they do in military funerals and learned to fold the flag.”

Jan Schreiber (1962-70) took it one step further after her summer at camp. “I remember my birthday was at the end of summer and although I can’t remember which birthday it was, I asked for a flagpole like the one at camp. I made my family stand out there and do the pledge. I was symbolic of camp and a transitional object like a blanket or teddy bear.”

One day Susan Ruterbusch (1947-52), who took flag raising very seriously, sucked on lemons with a friend while watching their friend blow Taps. The notes would not emerge from the instrument she played due to her salivating!

“I remember the early morning pledge of allegiance where some of the girls would faint because it was so hot,” said Rosemary Orgren (1956-58). “I might have even been one of those fainters. I know they gave us salt pills.”

“Mealwise, I always loved breakfast,” said Janice Moore (1953). “I don’t remember ever eating any other meal. I do recall my hands were sticky from jelly at breakfast and I was asked to raise the flag and I couldn’t leave to wash them, but I was so upset to have jelly on my hands.”

The Reveille song that played during Amy Scott’s camping years (1971-74) was just plain annoying, but for Cindy Rose (1968-70) it was awesome, and for Missy Plambeck (and many years of campers), the flagpole was a place to sneak out to and raise someone’s underwear up for a joke, even though they all had respect for the tradition and honor.

One unpleasant memory surrounding the flag involved the years of the Vietnam War. “How could we raise the flag when we were killing people,” asked Sharon Williams, who recalled the flag was not raised on the pole outside the lodge in 1972 and 1973.

Were you ever chosen for the honor of raising or lowering the flag, or did you ever play the bugle at camp?