Scouts honor veterans with ceremony to retire flags

The Boy Scouts of Troop 316 honored veterans and our country with a flag retirement ceremony on Veteran’s Day at Carpenters Campground United Methodist Church.

The troop followed official Boy Scout steps to show honor and respect to the worn and used flags that had been collected for retirement. Assisting in the ceremony as honored guests were veterans Doug Headrick, Terry Huffstetler. Brian Goad (who is also a scoutmaster), Wendell Carpenter, Charlie Head and Red Brown.

Pat Knight is the scoutmaster for Troop 316 and wife, Lisa, is assistant scoutmaster. The troop chose to place the flags in a wooden box which the veterans call a coffin. Approximately 25 flags were placed in the box, with one flag draped over the top. The box was then lowered into the fire.

The U.S. Flag Code states that “the flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”