Castlewood community in Atwater honors military with flag raising ceremony
Sun-Star Staff
Members of the Winton VFW, Adam Conour, left, and Steve Berkenkamp, right, unfurl an American flag during a ceremony inside the Castlewood community in Atwater, Calif., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
Andrew Kuhn
akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
A special patriotic display happened last week in the Castlewood community in Atwater, as residents gathered to celebrate the raising of the American flag on their new flagpole.
According to Castlewood resident Sharon Wilkerson, the flag raising ceremony was held as a way to pay tribute to families who lived in former Castle Air Force Base housing as well as fallen soldiers.
Members of the Winton VFW were on hand to lead the ceremony, and residents held small American flags with their hands on their hearts in recognition of the occasion.
Don Covington, events and volunteer director at Castle Air Museum, Atwater District 1 City Councilmember John Cale and members of the Atwater Police Department attended the ceremony which was immediately followed by a community potluck.
The Castlewood community is home to individuals 55-years and older, which sits on land that at one time contained housing for Castle Air Force Base families.
Community members look on during a flag raising ceremony inside the Castlewood community in Atwater, Calif., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Members of the Winton VFW, Steve Berkenkamp, left, and Adam Conour, right, unfurl an American flag during a ceremony inside the Castlewood community in Atwater, Calif., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Madelyn Duckworth, 8, passes out small American flags to those in attendance during a flag raising ceremony inside the Castlewood community in Atwater, Calif. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Community members look on and recite the Pledge of Allegiance during a flag raising ceremony inside the Castlewood community in Atwater, Calif., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. According to Castlewood resident Sharon Wilkerson, the American flag was raised on the communitys new flag pole as a way to pay tribute to families who lived in the former Castle Air Force Base housing as well as fallen soldiers. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Community members look on during a flag raising ceremony inside the Castlewood community in Atwater, Calif., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. According to Castlewood resident Sharon Wilkerson, the American flag was raised on the communitys new flag pole as a way to pay tribute to families who lived in the former Castle Air Force Base housing as well as fallen soldiers. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
An American flag is raised inside the Castlewood community during a ceremony in Atwater, Calif., on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. According to Castlewood resident Sharon Wilkerson, the American flag was raised on the communitys new flag pole as a way to pay tribute to families who lived in former Castle Air Force Base housing as well as fallen soldiers. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
