Community Corner

Lincoln Depot Museum to Mark Flag Day with Dedication, Ceremony

One of Westchester's oldest fraternal organizations is teaming up with its newest historic museum on Flag Day.

From the Lincoln Depot Museum

This year’s Flag Day will feature something special at the Lincoln Depot Museum—not just a celebration, but the installation and dedication of a 21-foot flagpole at Westchester County’s newest historic facility. 

The ceremony will take place on Flag Day, June 14, at 3 pm, at the intersection of Water Street and Central Avenue, Peekskill, NY. Light refreshments will be available after the ceremony.

Find out what's happening in Peekskill-Cortlandtwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Saturday's event will mark the first official raising of a flag at the place where Abraham Lincoln gave his only speech in Westchester County—on his way to the White House on Feb. 19, 1861. The Lincoln Depot Museum has been completely restored and includes advanced educational and exhibition facilities. It also features a stunning statue of Abraham Lincoln giving his speech.

One of the few things missing at the Lincoln Depot was a full-sized flagpole. The Peekskill Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks of the United States of America [BPOE] changed that, mobilizing businesses and individuals from around the region to donate their products and services to make the flagpole happen.

Find out what's happening in Peekskill-Cortlandtwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Flying the flag in the place where a former President of the United States visited and spoke just made sense to the Elks”, says Paul Crumb, Exalted Ruler/President of the Peekskill Elks Lodge (which was founded in 1901).

“The Elks, which began observing Flag Day in 1907, teamed up with the Capt. Oliver C. Chase, Jr. Post 274 of the American Legion and many other businesses and individuals to make that possible. Each year on Flag Day, we gather to honor our country’s Flag, to celebrate the anniversary of its birth as a symbol of the Cause of Freedom throughout the World, to give honor to Patriotism, to appreciate Liberty and to recall the achievements attained beneath its folds,” added Crumb.

“The Lincoln Depot Board would like to thank the Peekskill Elks Lodge 744 for approaching us with their wonderful gift of the flag pole. We have been working to establish connections with organizations through the Hudson Valley and to have the Elks contribute in such a significant way is extremely satisfying. We at the Lincoln Depot look forward to further collaborations with the Elks organization and other groups in the region,“ said Lincoln Depot Board President John G. Testa. “The new flagpole will be a symbol of the Lincoln Depot’s presence and also help let the community know the Museum is here and active. It is appropriate we are having the dedication of the pole on Flag Day along with the unique ceremony to be performed by the Elks members,” added Testa.

Besides teaching history, the Lincoln Depot Museum has also proven highly useful as a gathering and exhibition space. Even though the facility is still moving towards completion, it has already hosted everything from Chamber of Commerce breakfasts to dances, parties and other events.

“The Lincoln Depot museum has made tremendous progress over the last few months toward our goal of opening the museum this fall. We have acquired hundreds of artifacts and have hired a curator to help us design and create a one of a kind experience for Westchester and the region. We will have on display significant Lincoln and Civil War related items both from our permanent collection and on loan from private collectors and the local Peekskill Museum. There will also be items from the Peekskill Military Academy whose cadets stood as Lincoln’s guard when he spoke to the Peekskill community,” Testa says.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here