Flag Day, June 14th, is a day I don’t usually think about much, but it seems many small towns do. Our annual biking trip took us to the Glacier Lakes Trail, in Willmar, Minnesota. We also spent time riding around part of beautiful Green Lake in Spicer. The days were sunny and warm, with one day being very windy but we managed to pedal through.
We had great dinner on an outdoor patio in Spicer Thursday night, and we were reminded that it was Flag Day.
One couldn’t help notice all the American flags (and one from the Ivory Coast). There were flags flying everywhere: downtown main street, in flowerpots on the sidewalks, on poles along the lake…and of course, there was the trio of flags usually seen at memorials: the American, Minnesota and POW flags.
I researched the flag I didn’t recognize – it’s represents the Ivory Coast. I learned the significance of the colors: the orange represents the splendor of nation blossoming, white represents peace, and green represents hope.
I looked up the Minnesota Flag (blue background) and learned there are nineteen stars on it because it was the 19th state to enter the union after the original thirteen states. The flag’s emblem is the state seal which includes the state flower (Showy Lady Slipper) among other symbols. There are three dates on the Minnesota flag: 1858 the year Minnesota became a state, 1819 when Fort Snelling was established, and 1893 when the flag was adopted as the official state flag.
The POW-MIA (Prisoner Of War-Missing In Action) flag was adopted in 1972. On the flag it is written: You are not forgotten.
Our first United States flag was adopted in 1777 and it had thirteen stars. The flag with fifty stars was adopted in 1960.
Also, along the main street in Spicer, on the shores of Green Lake, is a wonderful children’s play area…a destination play area I’d say. It is large, well-made and well-maintained, unique and inviting, and has a bike rack for kids. We also discovered another impressive children’s play area the next day in Willmar, in a park near the city bike trail. What great spaces for children to play in, outdoors.
We, too, enjoyed playing outdoors in the Willmar area, surrounded by flags and bike trails (playgrounds).
I’ve been to this area, but not for an in-depth visit. did you see anything else of interest?
We were in the area mainly for biking. The trail system was good.
We rode to Spicer Castle, a bed and breakfast and mystery dinner theater, but it is for sale and run down and I no longer am interested in going to it.
The Willmar/Spicer area is nice and Green Lake was clear and lovely.