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Last Thursday was Flag Day, and it passed like any other summer weekday for most people.  However, for Boy Scout Troop 9317, located in Rochester, Washington State, it was not just another summer day.  It was a solemn occasion for the small troop of boys to present 19 flags for the last time and properly dispose of them according to US Code 4 Section 8(k).

If you’ve never attended a ceremony like this, you are missing out.  It was a solemn occasion from the start, with only a handful of non-Boy Scout family members in attendance.  There was not a lot of fanfare, but the boys and their adult leaders carefully folded each flag and prepared the ceremony with one boy assigned to distribute the flags to an honor guard of two boys for each flag.  Due to the volume of flags being permanently destroyed, the boys had to repeat their honor duties multiple times.

19 Flags were folded and prepared

None of these flags had flown over a battlefield or had storied legends associated with them.  Most had been purchased by local residents to be flown from small, residential flag poles or placed on family homes and buildings.  Some were older and predominantly used on special occasions like July 4th, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day holidays.  Some had faded with exposure after too many days in the sun.  Some were tattered with holes and rips from too many flaps in the wind and weather.  All had been seen on better and more glorious days, but this was the last day any of these flags would be seen again.  Yet, despite the beating they had taken during their existence, this final hour was dedicated to them and the honor they represent.

Army combat Veteran and Boy Scout scoutmaster Jerry Livingston reads “Old Glory” to start the ceremony
Boy Scout Troop 9317 waits to begin the ceremony

After reading from the poem “Old Glory,” and saying the Pledge of Allegiance, the ceremony continued in almost perfect silence.  Each team of boys would march to a spot next to the fire, carefully unfold the flag, present it to the small gathering one last time, and then the flag would be carefully and reverently placed on the fire.  The boys and adult troop leaders would salute the flag until it had been entirely consumed, then the next color guard would start the process over again with the next flag.

Saluting the flag until it is entirely consumed

The silence of the ceremony was moving.  The Boy Scouts didn’t talk or joke, they just carefully proceeded with the ceremony like it was the most important mission they had that day.  The sounds of birds in the trees, the crackling wood in the fire, a distant lawn mower, and the rumble of motorcycles on a nearby road were the only sounds to punctuate the silence of the flag ceremony.  Those common sounds by their distant presence added to the solemnity, respect, and silence of the event.

Once all the flags were gone, the troop leaders (all of whom are military veterans) would stay with the fire until it burned to ashes, and then fish the flag grommets out of the coals, which are placed on strings – two at a time and presented to local residents who had provided support and help to the Boy Scouts.  No part of the flag would be disrespected, and while not officially part of the US code for proper disposal of flags, it seems like a proper way to show respect even with the grommets.

The political drama of the world can feel overwhelming and all-consuming at times.  News reports emphasize the bad, the corrupt, and the terrible.  This creates the image of a world falling apart.  It doesn’t matter if you are concerned about the swamp in Washington DC, or the political clown show a few hours away in Seattle, or just worried about the future for your children.  While all that drama continues, it is also important to remember that all over our country there are groups of kids and adults willing to make the time and effort – without recognition or reward – on a quiet, summer evening to pay solemn respect and proper ceremony to our nation’s flag and honor just like Boy Scout Troop 9317 in Rochester, Washington State.

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OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.”  IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.  IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT.  IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.”  UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED

6 COMMENTS

  1. Is it true that more boy’s are leaving the Boy Scout’s? I read there is another organization not taking girls, or Homosexuals ? Thanks you.

  2. Our Scouts in Klamath County, Oregon do the same thing. Every Veterans Day and this year, with the help of the local Elks lodge – Boys from Boy Scout Troops 71, 8 , 40 and 150 took part in a Flag Day Flag Retirement and ceremony at the Klamath Elks club on flag day. On Veterans Day we have sometimes retired nearly 100 worn flags. For that event we include the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts to help.
    The ceremony is simple but moving.

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