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Alexandria, VA (May, 8 2006) The Old Dominion Boat Club officially welcomed the summer boating season on Sunday, May 7^th with their annual “Flag Raising” ceremony. Before a large crowd of community residents, ODBC Club members and their guest the ceremony began with the Presentation of Colors by the United States Coast Guard Honor Guard from Tiscom Base in Alexandria. Charlotte Savage sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem followed by an Invocation from Rev. Robert L. Ruskamp of St. Mary Catholic Church in Alexandria.

Participating in raising the flags were Virginia State Senator, Patsy Ticer who’s husband is a member of ODBC; City of Alexandria’s Mayor Euille; radio veteran Bill Mayhugh; and ODBC President Eric DeSoto. Past President Harry Harrington, who started the Flag Raising tradition at ODBC in 1977, stunned the crowd each time a flag was raised by discharging a small cannon. In the background dockside was the Alexandria Fireboat 201 Vigilant. On the Potomac River, the John Glenn of D. C. honored the tradition spraying their hoses for an awesome backdrop to the event.

Harrington said after the ceremony “that shouting a cannon represents a patriotic gesture honoring each flag.” Harrington, ODBC President in 1977, went on to say “as a Club with a long history of water-related activities and winning many of Virginia’s most noted rowing trophies, I began the proud tradition of Flag Raising to kick of the boating season. We dedicated that first ceremony to 1932 Past President Arthur King (age 90 at the time) who was in attendance. Bill Mayhugh was the Masters of Ceremonies and Past Mayor Frank Mann raised the City of Alexandria flag.” Current Commodore, Lorraine Lloyd, added “we look forward each year to this historical yacht club tradition proudly sharing in it with the community of Alexandria and our Club Members.”

Participants in the USCG Honor Guard were SN Jackson, SN Caswell, SN McClean, and SN Viereck. Also attending the ceremony was John Thrift, Commodore of the Port of Washington Yacht Club in D.C. ###

Old Dominion Boat Club

The Old Dominion Boat Club, the oldest rowing boat club in the United States, has been a part of the Alexandria community since its first meeting in September of 1880. Over the course of its 125-year history, the Boat Club has consistently had a history of service to the community and as a continuous supporter to the social, recreational, civic, and material progress of the City of Alexandria.

The Club’s community support includes its sponsorship of the Select Fall H.S. Rowing Program, funding of high school rowing scholarships, and a 40-year-long sponsorship of a Salvation Army Christmas Bell Ringing. Sponsorships also include fundraisers for the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, Alexandria Chapter of the American Liver Foundation, the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and making charitable donations to the Make a Wish Foundation, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. ###