Brooklyn celebrates Flag Day with family-friendly activities

      Area youngsters wave as an antique car filled with patriotic dressed youngsters rolls along the Brooklyn Flag Festival parade route. Photos by J.O. Parker

J.O. Parker
 
          The Brooklyn Flag Festival held June 11 – 14 featured good food and lots of family fun.
       The event opened on Thursday with a Kiddie Parade, which was moved to Manatt Center due to the threat of bad weather.
           Also held that evening was Brooklyn’s Got Talent contest, held in the opera house.
Josh Gerard, the local Brooklyn Librarian, took first place in the adult division with a standup comedy routine.
            And the local Sons of American Legion served chili dogs to hungry attendees.
            On Friday, following a golf tournament, the Brooklyn Kiwains Club cooked and served chicken dinners with all the fixings. They were stationed at the Catholic Church parking lot.
            A parade was held on Saturday morning with a large contingent of floats featuring veterans, local fire departments, old tractors, vintage vehicles and area businesses.
            Parade marshals included World War II Veteran Stanley Walford, age 100, who was raised and lived in Brooklyn until a couple years ago.
            Steve Plants, who has volunteered with East Poweshiek Ambulance for 50-years of service, was also recognized as a parade marshal.
            On Saturday afternoon, the EPA held an open house honoring all the ambulance service volunteers through the years at the fire station. The event included a donation of $10,000 by the Don Brannian Estate, which was presented by Brannian’s daughter, Kim Bauman, along with Rusty Clayton.
After the parade, Walford was honored with an 80-year certificate of membership in the local American Legion. The event took place at the Brooklyn Flag Display by the Harold “Pie” Keller memorial.
            Following the parade, families enjoyed an afternoon of fun, games and food at Landes Park with the Ruritans serving hamburgers and hot dogs while a bag tournament took place on Front Street along with a Pie Eating Contest.
             “My youngest was looking forward to Flag Days this year to do the tractor pedal pull again,” said Sarah Kloppenburg. “She is a beast at it! The one guy that walks along with the kids could hardly keep up with her when she went! She has goals of going to Nationals again. She loves it so much!”
On Saturday evening, in spite of the rain, a concert sponsored by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce went on as planned at the Southside Ballfield. Music was provided by Tyler Richton and the High Bank Boys along with Not Quite Brothers.
            “The concert had some weather issues but both bands were fantastic and every one there made the most of it,” said Casie VanTomme, who attend with family. “The bags tournament also had a great turn out.”
            And the weekend wrapped up with the sixth annual Brooklyn Ruritan Car Show with a great turnout in Landes Park on Sunday. The show drew 125 cars and trucks.
        “It was great to see so many families and community members enjoying our town’s celebration together,” said Katy Calkins. “The planning committee did an excellent job booking children’s inflatables, multiple food truck options, vendors, and other activities throughout the entire weekend.”
          Gerard said his youngest daughter, Gracie, had a vendor booth on Saturday and did well. She sold handmade bracelets and brushes that she painted and added beads and shells.
“She put a lot of work into making this happen and we are proud of her,” said Gerard along with his wife, Tracey.
            The Brooklyn Library had a float in the parade, with volunteers handing out bookmarks and candy. And New Beginnings Church members and volunteers helped man the inflatables in the park.
“It was a beautiful day for the parade and was one of the nicest parades with a variety of entries,” noted Jane Cline, whose husband and son drove tractors in the parade. “A lot of people were there to watch and enjoy it.”
        Archie Kuntz of Brooklyn, who had a float in the parade for his Broken Spoke Ranch and auction business, believes this was the largest crowd along the parade route.
            “It was non-stop throwing out candy to the kids,” he said. “I thought the parade was very smooth and it was nice to see all the activities at the park.”