Peninsula flagpole ceremony returns

June Casagrande

The flagpole was flagless from the 1930s until last year, when local

businessman Ralph Rodheim saw an opportunity for the entire community

to rally around Old Glory.

Now, what was a fledgling attempt to salute America is on its way

to becoming a peninsula tradition.

Every Saturday night this summer, the flagpole at the ferry

landing on the Balboa Peninsula will be the site of a patriotic

ceremony with special guests, music, cannon blasts and a

flag-lowering.

The ceremonies, which take place at sunset, are designed to be

moving and uplifting.

“It’s a neat thing and a way to honor America,” Rodheim said.

Each week, there will be a special guest taking part in the

ceremony. Last week, the event resumed with an appearance by Mayor

Steve Bromberg.

This week’s ceremony, which begins at 7:45 p.m., will include

representatives of the U.S. Marine Corps, including Newport Beach

resident Ben Wynkoop and other Camp Pendleton Marines returned from

Iraq.

Other ceremonies this summer will include a 21-gun salute

presented by the local American Legion post and a concert on Aug. 30,

the last night of the summer-long series.

The public is invited to attend these free events from 7:45 to 8

p.m. every Saturday night through Aug. 30 at the Balboa Ferry on the

Balboa Peninsula.