Photos by Kris Todd [Order this photo]

The first day of classes for the 2008-09 school year at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Spencer commenced Wednesday with students and staff members parading outside to witness a flag presentation and flag-raising ceremony. The tradition began in 1970, when the building was officially opened and the late Bob Conlon, an Army corporal who served in World War II, presented a flag to school representatives and students.

His flag presentation tradition was continued Wednesday, as Clay County Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary members Helen Foote, Virginia Conlon and Linda Conlon presented an American flag to Sacred Heart student Nicole Raner. Following the flag presentation, Raner and her sister, Amy Raner, worked to raise the flag before their classmates in front of the school building.

After the 201 prekindergarten-through-sixth-grade parochial students, teachers, parents and siblings in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance, a blessing was offered by Rev. Brent Lingle and students were dismissed for a welcoming assembly in the gym.

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