Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Bessemer Women's Club offers Flag Day fun with social

By P.J. GLISSON

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Bessemer - The Bessemer Women's Club celebrated its 26th Flag Day social Thursday with a beautiful day and enough treats to fill a bakery. The location was in the city hall auditorium.

In charge every year since conceiving the event has been Barbara Karpus, who joined the club 58 years ago.

In addition to acknowledging another patriotic day in our nation's history, Karpus said the $2 ticket charge helps club members to provide a scholarship for a graduating senior from A.D. Johnston High School.

Club president Sue Abelman, who joined in 1976, commended Karpus' able management of the festivity and said the club's 99th year will begin on July 3.

As part of the 100th anniversary celebration next year, Abelman said club members plan to offer various events, some of which will be in conjunction with Washington School, which also will be celebrating its centennial.

So far, she said the Bessemer Women's Club is planning in 2019 to open to the public a special tea in conjunction with a fashion show and a quilt show. "The next year, the 4th is on a Thursday so we're going to have it (the tea, etc.) on the 6th," said Abelman. "It'll be here in the auditorium."

Barb Manninen, who grew up in Bessemer but now lives on Lake Gogebic, is also a member.

"I just like the social aspect," she said of the day's fun, and added, "We have a lot of good causes."

Abelman said examples of the club's charitable contributions have included theater chairs or support to several different area libraries.

Club members each did their own part to make the event a success.

Members JoAnn Harvey and Margaret Ann Boline hosted the entry table.

Member Barb Drier was one of many bakery contributors and also was slated to pour coffee.

Member Char Knaack created a wall hanging of a flag.

"Meeting so many new people and enjoying our treats" are two good reasons to participate, said member Yoko Jewess.

Kathie Billie said it was her third year at the event, and she was not the only one who came armed with friends, some from out of town or state.

At one table alone were Marchel Aho, of Ishpeming; Ellen Schneck, of Wakefield; and Sue Aho, of Florida.

According to circa.com, the first Flag Day was on June 14, 1777. At that time, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Act, which resulted in our nation receiving its first flag of 13 stars and 13 stripes.

The site adds that, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day.

A comprehensive history of U.S. flags is available on the website ushistory.org/betsy/flagfact.