History Doesn't Have to be a Drag, But It Can Be

Here's a feel good story ... each year, the

They give each student a small flag and a hand-made wooden stand in which to place it. Hand-made? What part of China do they make those in?

Au contraire, the stands are made ... did I mention hand-made? They're stained and painted by Lions members.

The children also get an American flag fact sheet including The Pledge of Allegiance and flag history.

Lion Jose Rodriguez was the coordinator this year and had the daunting job of reaching out to the schools, getting head counts, scheduling presentations and signing up members to take a day off from work to do a good deed. So far, so good.

This is where it gets weird. For the past two years Lions Dave Burt from Moore Buick and Todd Hill from SV Home, have, as Emeril Lagasse would say, "Bumped it up a notch."

For instance, last year, they dressed as George and Martha Washington. Todd in your basic blue knickers, white silk socks and a blue tri-corner hat. Perfect for a Tuesday night at Hannegan's, or a chamber mixer in The Castro.

And Dave wore a blue-and-white Victorian dress complete with corset and God only knows what he wore underneath.

This year, knowing that he'd, "Never squeeze into that dress again," Dave opted to don his Uncle Sam costume. How big is this guy's closet? And Todd, you guessed it, broke out the Nair and slipped into a patriotic little off-the-shoulder number topped by a gold tiara.

They then took a spin down Santa Cruz Avenue in Todd's convertible white '76 El Dorado.

Boy, that Shaft is a bad mother ... shut my mouth.

Well, needless to say, a great time was had by all. The children are doing well in therapy, The Lions Club continues to do terrific work and Todd and Dave are auditioning for Beach Blanket Babylon.