By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

When children come into the world, they inherit many of their traits from their family lineage. But freedom isn’t automatically inherited, Cahaba Valley Elks Lodge member Tom Davidson told third-graders at Meadow View Elementary School on Oct. 30.

“When you are born, there are genes in your body that are passed down from your grandparents and your parents,” Davidson said to the hundreds of students gathered in the school’s auditorium. “But freedom isn’t given to us without fighting, dying or pledging to uphold it.”

During the event, several Elks Lodge members outlined the importance of veterans in protecting America’s freedom, and gave the students a history of our national flags.

The Elks Lodge members displayed every American flag, including the Pine Tree Flag, the Gadsden Flag, the Grand Union Flag, the Betsy Ross Flag, the 15-star Flag, the 20-star Flag, the 48-star flag, the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Flag and the 50-star Flag.

After Elks Lodge members presented the 50-star American flag, the kids stood and saluted as the Elks Lodge members played a recording of a 7-year-old singing the national anthem.

Elks Lodge members also explained the importance of preserving America’s freedom, and encouraged the kids to thank veterans for the freedoms Americans enjoy today.

“If we don’t continue that tradition, another country will come in and take over,” Davidson said. “If you meet a veteran, you should go up to them and thank them.

“One day, you may have to fight for our freedom, but right now you can just enjoy it,” Davidson added. “But always remember how you got it.”

After the flag presentation, the Elks Lodge members handed out hundreds of dictionaries containing anti-drug bookmarks to the kids.