Lilburn's Green Flag Tradition: How It All Started

Once again, the Parkview Panthers and Berkmar Patriots face off this Friday for the “Battle of the Green Flag," -- a Lilburn City Championship between the two region 8-AAAAA football teams.

I graduated from Parkview in 2006, and while I heard about the Green Flag rivalry, I never really understood its origins or cared too much about the game. Berkmar was never much of a threat. The student body only really cared when the other team off Five Forks was on the schedule. So what is this tradition about?

It began soon after the Mountain Park community originated, and the idea was to create a Lilburn city championship game to promote both schools and stoke a rivalry. The winner of the game is crowned champions of Lilburn and is awarded the green flag.

What about Parkview and Berkmar made them pick green? Absolutely nothing. It was done on purpose to create a neutral color so that it had nothing to do with either Parkview’s orange and white or Berkmar’s blue and red.

Parkview is looking to retain the flag for 12 straight years now during its homecoming game. Although Parkview has won state championships in the past, they have been knocked out in the early rounds of the playoffs in recent years. And Berkmar perennially fails to make it to the playoffs.

 “I think that Berkmar has struggled to be competitive and we have too,” said Parkview’s Head Coach Cecil Flowe about the diminishing attention to the rivalry.

But Coach Flowe explained it wasn’t always the case. “I can tell you back in the day this was a real big deal," he said. "It was talked about daily about two weeks before the game.”

“Not so much anymore, he said continued Coach Flowe. “But to us it is still the city championship. We are proud to hold the Green Flag and defend it with much pride and honor.”

“We make a big deal about playing for the city championship to our kids,” said Coach Flowe. “We keep the flag up in our weight room. This week it is flown under the American flag as a signal that this is Green Flag Week.”

Will Berkmar be able to stop Parkview from winning the flag for 12 consecutive years? . Berkmar has been sliding down to the bottom of Region 8 since a win against Meadowcreek. The Patriots have been outscored 134-6 in the past three region games.

But you can't rule out the Berkmar boys. When the Friday night lights turn on, it’s anyone’s game in this "Battle for the Green Flag."