Scouts preparing to retire the first flag.

On June 14, the Lake Oconee Elks Lodge recognized Flag Day by handing out flags at the Harmony intersection early that morning to bring attention to folks that it was Flag Day.  

After returning to the Lodge, a program was conducted outside by the flagpole in front of the Lodge. Johnny Hunt started off the program by talking about Flag Day, asking the assembled group to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and introducing the Lodge’s guests. Participating in the Flag Day program were the Boy Scouts from Troop 30 and Mike and Martha Jones. 

Mike Jones, an Elk and a WWII veteran, was introduced and he spoke to the group  about Sgt. Rudyard Keith Wickliffe, for whom a special plaque was being dedicated, and relived some of the memories from the WWII period in history. 

Sgt. Wickliffe was the cousin of his wife, Martha (who will turn 89 on June 21). The plaque honoring Sgt. Wickliffe was a birthday present for Martha. The Joneses named their son, Michael Keith, in his memory. Sgt. Wickliffe was the only child of Martha’s Dad’s older brother, Garland Wickliffe, who had passed away when Keith was only three or four years old.

Keith Wickliffe was a WWII Gunner Sergeant with the 822 Bomber Squadron, 38 Bomber Group. He is missing in action and is listed on the tablets of the Missing at the Manilla American Cemetery. Sgt. Wickliffe received the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and a Purple Heart. He graduated from high school, where he was a band member and had been  attending North Texas State Teachers College in Denton, Texas when WWII began. As many young men did at that time, he joined the military to defend our country.  As many did, he paid the supreme price, his life, while serving in the US Army Air Force. His plane was shot down in the battle of Leyte Gulf on November 10, 1944. As with so many, no recovery was possible, so he became an MIA. 

Mike’s brother, J.R. Jones, U.S. Navy, was on the first ship torpedoed by the Germans before the United States had even declared war against Germany. His parents were awakened around two in the morning by two men who came to tell them that J.R. was not killed but was severely wounded. Mike’s other brother served in the Navy. Mike was drafted to serve in the National Guard. He received training at Ft. Benning and then reported regularly to conduct drills and practice defensive battles.

Because there were no other means to bring in crops, his dad contracted to have German prisoners of war bring in the crops. The guards allowed Mike’s mother to prepare and serve them ice cold sweet tea. In spite of the fact that her son had been severely wounded by Germans, she felt the need to give when she saw the need.

The Lake Oconee Elks Lodge is planning a brick wall to honor veterans that will surround the flagpole in front of the Lodge. The Jones family decided to have the plaque made when they became aware of the Veterans Memorial Wall that was being planned.  The plaque was made by a fellow Elk, Galen Mills of Elberton. Mike stated in his presentation; “as with so many families in the United States who suffered the loss of husbands, fathers, sons and daughters, this memorial will stand as our recognition of the dedication and service of those who were lost and those who served to maintain the freedom that we have today and allow us to continue to live as an independent and free nation. May their sacrifice never be forgotten.”

After the program, Boy Scout Troop 30 conducted a flag retirement ceremony. Scout Graham Grill read about the meaning of the stripes and the field of blue before each stripe was cut and the field of blue left intact so that the union is never separated. Mike Jones put the first stripe on the coals and he was followed by the Scouts and Elks that chose to place a flag in the flames. Thank you to Scoutmaster Jamie Grill and Troop 30 for coming to Flag Day and participating in the program and thank you to the Joneses for sharing this important moment in history.