• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • Home
  • Advertise
    • Advertise in One or All of our Magazines
    • Advertising Payment Form
  • Digital Subscription
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Login
  • Print Subscription
  • Contact Us

American Flag

Elks Bring OLD GLORY to Armonk Recreation Center

February 24, 2022 by Andrew Vitelli

In 2019, Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge #535 received an unexpected gift from a local resident –a 59-inch-by-43-inch beautifully crocheted American flag.

When Elks member and Armonk resident Arthur Adelman saw the work, he immediately thought of the Hergenhan Recreation Center as a perfect destination.

“I knew right away that the seniors in the Hergenhan center would really admire it and love it,” Adelman tells Inside Press. “And in fact, I brought it there and showed it to them and they were all amazed and loved it.”

The Elks first planned to hang the crocheted work–whose origin is unclear–in the center but decided otherwise after realizing that it was not in the best condition. The episode brought to light, however, that there was no American flag in the building, which is used for a wide range of meetings, gathering and community events.

“We all thought that it was a great idea,” Adelman said. “We just needed a better condition flag.”

As of this January, a 4-foot-7-inch by 4-foot-6-inch American flag now hangs in the center thanks to a donation from the Elks lodge. The flag is displayed in a frame with plexiglass along with a plaque that reads “Donated by Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge # 535 Armonk, NY.” A commemoration ceremony was originally set for January 20 but was delayed due to snow. 

While the flag itself was not particularly expensive, the framing and plaque put the cost upwards of $1,000, according to Adelman. As a patriotic organization–one that supports several veterans’ organizations and initiatives–the Elks were eager to make sure a flag is proudly displayed at the center. 

The lodge also hope that the commemoration and the prominent display of Old Glory sparks further recognition for the 154-year-old Elks, a charitable and patriotic organization open to all American citizens, and leads local residents to think about joining the group. 

Increasing Awareness

“The two purposes are visibility and recruitment,” says Adelman. “Younger people these days don’t join organizations as much. So our priority, and the reason we are doing this, is to let everybody know in North Castle and beyond that the Elks exist.”

The Mid-Westchester Lodge was initially three separate lodges–one in Mt. Kisco, one in Port Chester, and one in White Plains–with each lodge having its own building. But in March 2009, with membership declining, the three lodges merged to form one central lodge. The Elks now meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays each month at the American Legion in Armonk. 

“Most Elks lodges have their own buildings,” says Adelman. “Some of them not only have their own buildings, they have swimming pools, they have tennis courts.”

The sale of the three properties, however, left the Mid-Westchester Lodge with a sizeable war chest. This has allowed the organization to fund a range of activities and initiatives. 

“The motto is ‘Elks care, Elks share.’ And fortunately because the three lodges that constituted our lodge all had buildings and sold them, we have a very nice treasury and we can afford to be generous.”

The Elks have supported dozens of local charities, fundraisers, and community events, including grants to The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, Cerebral Palsy of Westchester, and the North Castle Public Library. The organization also supports several youth sports teams, including youth football and little league. The Elks are especially engaged in programs supporting veterans, participating in the Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies at the North Castle American Legion; providing a grant to the Montrose VA Food Pantry, and sponsoring long weekend cabin stays for 8 to 12 disabled veterans for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.

The pandemic initially forced the Mid-Westchester Lodge to move most of its meetings to Zoom in 2020, but once vaccines became widely available, they were able to resume in-person meetings while masked and socially distanced. 

“That’s worked out fine,” Adelman says. We’ve not really had a diminution in attendance.”

A changing world–one which the online metaverse has made smaller while at times weakening the bonds between neighbors–has challenged community-based organizations like the Elks. But Adelman hopes that anyone willing to give their time and service to help their community considers the Elks. 

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories, Cover Stories Tagged With: American Flag, Arthur Adelman, Hergenhan Recreation Center, Mid-Westchester Elks, Old Glory

Primary Sidebar

Please Visit

William Raveis – Armonk
William Raveis – Chappaqua
White Plains Hospital
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Briarcliff
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
NYOMIS – Dr. Andrew Horowitz
Raveis: Lisa Koh and Allison Coviello
Purple Plains
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Korth & Shannahan
Douglas Elliman: Chappaqua
Houlihan: Tara Siegel
World Cup Gymnastics
CPW Vein & Aesthetic Center
Play Nice Together
David Visconti Painting & Contracting
Houlihan: Kile Boga-Ibric
Pinksky Studio
Temple Beth El

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Our Latest Issues

For a full reading of our current edition, or to obtain a copy or subscription, please contact us.

Inside Armonk Inside Chappaqua and Millwood Inside Pleasantville and Briarcliff Manor

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print Subscription

Publisher’s Note Regarding Our Valued Sponsors

Inside Press is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse or not endorse any advertisers, products or resources referenced in either sponsor-driven stories or in advertisements appearing in this publication. The Inside Press shall not be liable to any party as a result of any information, services or resources made available through this publication.The Inside Press is published in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in advertising or sponsor driven stories that appear in this publication. The views of advertisers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher’s.

Opinions and information presented in all Inside Press articles, such as in the arena of health and medicine, strictly reflect the experiences, expertise and/or views of those interviewed, and are not necessarily recommended or endorsed by the Inside Press. Please consult your own doctor for diagnosis and/or treatment.

Footer

Support The Inside Press

Advertising

Print Subscription

Digital Subscription

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime to our print editions?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2025 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in