This federal holiday was marked with a flag-raising ceremony in one corner of West Seattle – at Alki Masonic Lodge on the east edge of The Junction. For the first time in eight years, a flag flies over the lodge, and VFW District 2 sent representatives to formally dedicate the new flag and renovated flagpole:

Mar Murillo from VFW Post 6599 (holding the flag) and Richard Moore from Post 2289 led the ceremony:

Also on hand, lodge leadership present and future – Sonny Canlas and Scott Marshall:

Family, friends, and community members came for a potluck preceding the dedication:

Alki Lodge 152, by the way, was originally chartered more than a century ago – in 1906.

The lodge over which the new flag flies is not only home to the local Masons, it’s also a popular place for public rentals and community events.