The Lions Flag

As a Boy Scout and US Army soldier it has been my honor to carry the United States Flag during parades. In parade, the US flag is carried on the right side of the color guard as it moves down the street with state and other flags to the left.

At the Opening Parade of the Lions International Convention in Fukuoka Japan I was asked to carry the Lions International Flag as our Multiple District 19 delegation from British Columbia, Idaho and Washington marched in its assigned 44th position in the parade.

I was told that the Lions flag would march in front of the US and Canadian flags. I chewed that fact over mentally for a couple minutes. I had heard that representatives from more than 100 nations would be at the convention and be viewing or be in the parade.

A grin spread on my face when I realized that since our delegation carried no Japanese flag that the Lions flag could be honored as a flag of nations and take a preeminent position in our procession. In the US, our flag code would have applied but Fukuoka was a long way and a different day from America.

Symbolically it was more than fitting. 100 years ago in Chicago USA Melvin Jones had an idea that has become the largest worldwide service organization. 37,000 Lions from all over the world have come to Japan to testify to that idea and pledge support to the Lions service to Vision, Youth, Hunger abatement and the Environment. I am honored to be a part of that movement and honored to have carried its flag.