The Glen Lake Women’s Club (GLWC) will host its annual Fourth of July flag raising ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at Old Settlers Park on Glen Lake.
Now in its 57th year the ceremony will combine patriotic music with a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a keynote address from retired Air Force captain Edward Peplinski.
“This Independence Day celebration is a joyful gathering of people who believe in the promise of America and citizens’ roles in that promise,” event chair Marge Maxbauer said.
Peplinski, a fifth generation Leelanau County resident, was chosen as this year’s speaker due to his 27 years of military service and the message of unity he will give titled, “Pulling Americans Together Through Gratitude.”
The Glen Lake Women’s Club has hosted the flag raising every year since 1970, even pulling it off over Zoom during the summer of COVID-19.
According to Maxbauer, the ceremony’s longevity comes from its simplicity.
“The event’s success lies in its formula,” she said. “An hour long event, over in plenty of time for folks to go to the Glen Arbor parade, that sets a sincere tone for a terrific holiday.”
Old Settlers Park has long served as a gathering place for the Glen Lake community and its historic chapel will once again play a central role in the celebration when its bell is rung by GLWC member Sharon McCue to begin the ceremony. Members of the Glen Lake Fire Department will then raise the American flag for an estimated 200+ attendees.
The Rev. Kenneth Stachnik of Empire’s St. Phillip Neri Catholic Church will be giving the nondenominational invocation in recognition of the first American pope and Mary Peterson, a longtime GLWC member, will read the Declaration of Independence.
Throughout the ceremony, pianist Cindy Goris will lead attendees in singing patriotic favorites including “The Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful” and “Let There be Peace on Earth.”
Kelly Chapman will be the day’s DJ, playing each of the military branch songs and providing music before and after the ceremony. She will be carrying on a family tradition established by her late father, Peter Chapman, who served as the event’s DJ for many years.
For Maxbauer, who is organizing the event for the second year in a row, the ceremony is less about celebrating history and more about encouraging people to think about their role in shaping their communities.
‘The price of our freedom, simply put, is meaningful involvement,” she said. ‘Talk is cheap, criticism is easy, and opinions are a dime a dozen. What are you doing to help improve your community, your state, and your country?”
Her philosophy mirrors the work of the GLWC itself as members strive to make a lasting impact through work like scholarships and volunteer projects. Maxbauer said former club president Kathy Cole often reminded members of the club’s longtime motto: “if you wish to live in a better place, better the place in which you live.”
“It’s important for people to attend as everyone can benefit from being reminded of the words of our founding fathers,” Maxbauer said. “Also, it is a truly uplifting event that encourages gratitude for what we have, where we live, and hopefully all we want to protect.”
Following the ceremony, the historic chapel at the park will be open for tours before attendees make their way to the Glen Arbor Fourth of July parade. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs as seating is limited.
Later this month, Glen Lake Women’s Club Art Fair will take place on Wednesday July 15. The art fair is the club’s largest fundraiser, raising upwards of $25,000 in scholarships annually.
