Submitted
Scouts from Noblesville’s Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts) Troop 222 for Girls observed Memorial Day on Monday by retiring American flags.
The flags, which had flown at Kahlo Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, were tattered and in need of replacement. The Scouts accepted the flags for retirement in October and chose Memorial Day as fitting for the ceremony.
Senior Patrol Leader Ellador led the ceremony. Troop 222 scouts Evelyn, Robbin, Charli, Nora, and Sebastian from Troop 183 assisted with the ceremony. Family members of the scouts participated as well.
“Duty to God and Country is the first line of the Scout Oath, it’s that important to our movement,” Scoutmaster Jenny Sherrill said. “Our scouts did such a great job with the program. It was powerful to join them in retiring the flags.”
The flags, which were synthetic material, were cut apart in keeping with flag code, keeping the field of blue intact, while the flag is cut into quarters. Burning these flags, which is the proper retirement for flags of cotton, is unhealthy for the environment or participants, so small pieces of the fabric were burned, while the rest were disposed of respectfully. Grommets from the flags were collected from the ashes and distributed to the participants as a remembrance of those who have lost their lives in service of our country.
Troop 222 is chartered by Bethel Lutheran Church, 20650 Cumberland Road, Noblesville. Girls aged 11 to 17 are invited to join the troop at any time.
For more information about Troop 222, contact Scoutmaster Jenny Sherrill at jennyrsherrill@gmail.com or see the troop website at NoblesvilleTroop222.org or on Facebook.
Photos provided