BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Art Angelo, from left, Stephen Lincoln, Pam Robinson, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., Christina Slade, Karol Stetler, Albert Neudauer and his wife Dona pose in front of the Nevada State Legislature with the donated flag.
Nevada may have been "Battle Born," but this week it will be Fed-Exed.
In order to make it to a special recognition event, a Carson City goodwill business group is shipping two new flags to the Washington National Cathedral in the nation's capital to replace out-of-date flags that have flown there unnoticed for years.
The cathedral, recently in the news as site of President Ronald Reagan's funeral, will honor the state for a month beginning July 18.
On a recent visit, Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Committee member Stephen Lincoln noticed the older Nevada flag that flies from the nave next to flags from each state and territory. The new flag, changed in 1991, has the state's name in letters beneath the star and above the sagebrush sprays.
Lincoln suggested the committee should replace the flags.
"(I thought) it would be a great way for ambassadors for the capital city of the state of Nevada to do something that will be seen by thousands of people," said Lincoln, broker/owner of RE/MAX 1st Choice Realty. "Not that it will make a lot of difference for everybody, but it will for us."
At first, Lincoln thought he would travel back to the national event and present the flags to the state's congressional delegation during the cathedral ceremony. But, apparently the state representatives might not be there.
"I found out they don't always participate," Lincoln said.
Instead, the committee officially presented the flags Saturday to Congressman Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., on the steps of the state Legislature. Jill Lufrano 7/9/04 please change this if it happened in a different way.
Every month, the cathedral recognizes one state and invites the Episcopal bishop to celebrate a morning service and a Christian minister as a guest preacher. This month, Rev. Charles Durante, former associate pastor with St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community in Carson City who now serves as pastor of Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Community in Reno, will be featured as a guest preacher July 18. The Right Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori of Las Vegas, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, will serve as guest celebrant.
A congressman is invited to read one lesson, but it is uncertain if any will accept the invitation, said Bill Peterson, worship department manager for the cathedral in Washington D.C. Other state representatives are asked to be flag bearers during a procession.
The cathedral staff is also wondering what to do with the old flags after they are replaced.
"Does anyone want the flags back?" Peterson asked.
Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
