Patriotic songs and winning essays and poetry were among the program highlights of the annual Flag Day observance at Emmaus Community Park in the borough.

The festivities included the presentation of awards by Emmaus Mayor Winfield Iobst.

Winning writers and poets read their entries on this year's theme, "What the American flag means to me." Esther H. Nguyen, Victoria A. Rivera and Kathleen A. Taranto took first, second and third place honors in poetry. Alexa T. Brndjar, Jason L. Bowen and Laurie L. Slagle placed first, second and third, respectively, for their essays.

All of the students attended schools in the East Penn School District at the time of the contest.