Kindergartener Shania Hicks,6, giggles during a flag ceremony at Fremont School Tuesday morning. Standing next to her i Elizabeth Bracamontes, 6, and Brandon Iza, 7, behind flag.
More than 650 Fremont Elementary School children learned about the U.S. flag on Tuesday.
About a dozen Lions Club members handed out 651 individual flags along with information about the flag's history, according to Council Chairman Mike Manor
"We want to teach the kids about the American flag and what it means," Manor said. "We tell them about the pledge of Allegiance and how they are just one of millions of kids who get up every day and say the pledge."
One surprise guest the Lions brought with them was longtime member Mayor Ray Masayko
Fremont Vice Principal Ruthlee Caloiaro said the mayor's arrival was a surprise for the students.
"That was really exciting," she said. "We didn't know he was going to be there."
Also speaking at Tuesday's ceremony was Carson City Justice of the Peace Robey Willis and Sen. Harry Reid's representative, Yolanda Garcia. Garcia presented a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to the school.
Lt. Cmdr. Skip Cannady brought an honor guard from Carson High School's Navy Jr. Reserve Office Training Corps.
"Some of the kids were really jazzed about getting the flag from the Capitol," Caloiaro said. "It was a neat ceremony, the teachers were involved and the Fremont band played. They were awesome."
Caloiaro said the ceremony allowed the children to put things like 9/11 and the war in Iraq in perspective.
"I don't think they really realized the magnitude of all that has happened," she said. "This gave them a way to tie it all together. They realized the importance of the flag. This was a real opportunity for them to learn."
Each year, Lions select a school for the Memorial Day flag ceremony.
