Riley Avenue Elementary School students pay tribute on Flag Day

Second graders at Riley Avenue Elementary School in Calverton celebrated Flag Day with a patriotic concert as a salute to the American flag Tuesday morning.

Students also participated in the annual Flag Day essay contest sponsored by the Riverhead Elks Lodge, studied the history of the American flag and created a giant piece of artwork showing student faces in the shape of the American flag.

“This program started 24 years ago and correlates with the second-grade curriculum, as well as the annual Elk’s Lodge essay contest entitled, ‘What the American Flag Means to Me,’” said second-grade teacher Lauren Farber.

The first place winner in the grades 1-3 division of the contest was second-grader Connor Downey. 

“It means I am able to go to school and do whatever I want to do when I grow up. It stands for freedom and hope,” Connor wrote.

Photo: Second graders created this flag in art teacher Melissa Haupt’s class. (Credit: Sandra Kolbo)