Batavia To Celebrate Flag Day With Concert, Educational Event

BATAVIA, IL — Batavia is commemorating its "special connection" to Flag Day with a concert, food and educational opportunities.

A longtime Batavia dentist, Bernard Cigrand, is cited as one of the founders of Flag Day. Cigrand "worked tirelessly" to promote a day recognizing the American flag before President Woodrow Wilson on June 14, 1916, proclaimed such a day in the United States.

This year, the Flag Day celebration will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. June 14 at Peg Bond Center and the Batavia Riverwalk.

The highlight of the event will be a free performance by the Batavia Community Band and the Chorus of DuPage, a male barbershop chorus. Food and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase during the show.

Officials are also using the occasion to teach residents about Batavia's Flag Day monument scheduled to open to the public Oct. 1.

The monument — meant to honor Cigrand's life — features a helix 40 feet in diameter, a 10-foot-wide walkway around the perimeter, and a 50-foot-tall flagpole that will display a 10-by-18-foot flag.

Beyond incorporating information about iconic flag events, the country's population growth and official flags flown by the U.S., it will also feature a Sundial Learning Center since the flagpole will serve as a sundial and highlight historic events, officials said.

Families and businesses can also have their names incorporated into the design by purchasing engraved bricks through the monument's website.

Those attending the Flag Day celebration will have a chance to learn about the monument's progress and sign a banner that will be included in a time capsule that will be installed in the monument in the fall.