Red, white, blue and ice cream | News for Fenton, Linden, Holly MI

 Owner Dave Durant said this is the 10th year for the event.

 “We’ve got the biggest turnout ever,” he said. Approximately 700 people came to the event. Kids as young as 2 participated. Children who used sign language also recited the pledge. 

 Uncle Ray’s partnered with the Fenton Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to host the event. Durant said the VFW has been “really great.”

 “There are four major holidays in America — Fourth of July, Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Flag Day. These are all very important to remember and all the people who made them and came before us,” Durant said. “We want to be sure that the next generation knows the importance of our flag. We want to be sure that we’re doing all the right things for our community.”

 The event began with a performance from members of the Fenton High School marching band. 

 A young Fenton resident, Caleb Malarkey, performed “Taps” on his trumpet. 

 “All systems go on Flag Day. Right on,” Durand told the crowd. “Thank you for bringing your special patriots.”

 One special guest who attended was Paul Englehart, a 98-year-old Army veteran of World War II. He’s the oldest veteran at the Linden VFW Post. 

 A local resident Julie Mackay brought her daughter Madeline and her friends Ciearrah and Gabby. 

 “This is my third year coming down to Uncle Ray’s. Madeline and Ciearrah both have parents who are veterans so this is important to our families. I brought the troops today,” she said. 

 Local residents Dayna Mooney and Stephanie Shoemaker brought their daughters, Annabelle Mooney, 6, and Lillian Shoemaker, 5, to recite the pledge for Flag Day. 

 “I subscribed to Uncle Ray’s emails. We love Uncle Ray’s. I know that they do the pledge every morning and she wanted to hang out with her friend and get free ice cream,” Mooney said. “I think it’s a good idea for kids.”

 Shoemaker said it’s good for kids to learn about patriotism and the country.

 “They’re still learning in school but this makes it fun for them to continue to learn and be patriotic,” she said. 

 Flag Day is celebrated every June 14 to honor the American flag. It commemorates the historic date of June 14, 1777, when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation,” according to history.com. 

 In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14 as Flag Day.

 Bridget Koledo contributed to this story.