By AMY ADAMS
news@readthereporter.com
If you happened to drive by a city building or park in Fishers on the last Monday morning in May, you no doubt saw the U.S. flags flying at half-staff.
For a dozen or more Fishers BSA Scouts, that meant showing up at Liberty Plaza at 4:45 a.m. on Memorial Day to ceremoniously lower the flag there before heading to the police station, the fire station, and city hall to do the same.
That is because the service of lowering U.S. flags in the city of Fishers on certain holidays and according to national or state proclamation rests in the capable hands of BSA Scouts from Boys Troop 303 and the newly formed Girls Troop 3030.
All BSA Scouts learn early on about handling and respecting the flag, but Troops 303 and 3030 have taken it to the next level.
The Scouts began holding flag retirement ceremonies on Veterans Day at the location of their charter organization, American Legion Post 470. Through starts and stops, Scoutmaster Jeff White realized that people were counting on them.
“We needed to make this a priority,” White said. “We needed to make flags our main identity.”
The Scouts have eagerly embraced this mission.
Scouts Maddelyn Sills (left) and Marley Duvall holding flags ready to be properly retired. (Photos provided by Jeff White)
In 2017, Jeremiah Best’s Eagle Scout service project included placing a disposal box at the front entrance of Post 470 where anyone can bring flags for dignified disposal. A year later, Connor Stockton’s Eagle project involved building a pentagon-shaped, stone fire pit behind the American Legion. Another Scout, Marley Duvall, now at Hamilton Southeastern High School, took over flag duty at his junior high when he realized the school was not following proper protocol.
In recent years, the Scouts have held two flag retirement ceremonies a year. With commitment like the Pony Express, last fall, they continued retiring flags even with snow coming down.
The most recent ceremony occurred on June 17, appropriately the Saturday after Flag Day.
Scouts and leaders from Westfield BSA Troops 1910 and 1920 and Fishers BSA Troop 205 lent their support. However, Troop 303 and 3030 Scouts could be distinguished by their red, white, and blue neckerchiefs specially designed bearing both the pentagon and the American Legion symbols to represent their commitment to the flag.
As the fire began to burn, the Crossroads of America Scout Band welcomed guests with patriotic tunes. Behind them, tables laden with torn and tattered flags, including those collected in the disposal box from local citizens and city workers as well as many recovered from an old VFW building, awaited their final service.
Troop 303 and 3030 Committee Chair David Sklorenko welcomed a crowd of about 50, including Scout families, American Legion members, and members of the Hamilton County community. Even some bikers on the Nickel Plate Trail stopped to pay their respects as Scouts presented the colors, led the pledge of allegiance, and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
BSA Scouts salute the flag as the Crossroads of America Scout Band plays “The Star-Spangled Banner.” (Reporter photo by Amy Adams)
Scouts read excerpts from the United States Flag Code, which was written with the help of the American Legion and goes back 100 years.
“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
With the fire overseen by Jeff Trumbower, advancement committee member, Scouts continued to dispose of the flags, including some large post flags, until around 2 p.m. when they had all been burned.
“We are glad to see a younger generation learning proper flag etiquette and loyalty,” said Post 470 Chaplain Charles Warren.
During his 30 years of service to the U.S. Army, Warren was trained in military ceremonies and funerals. He handled flags in funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, participated in President Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, and gave guidance to President Bill Clinton at a governor’s funeral.
BSA Troops 303 and 3030 also sell new, top-quality, embroidered U.S. flags, as well as Indiana state, POW-MIA, and military branch insignia flags. Flag purchases not only benefit the Troops directly, they also support programs through the American Legion Headquarters in Indianapolis that help veterans and families.
The next flag retirement ceremony in Fishers will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, which is Veteran’s Day, at American Legion Post 470, 9091 E. 126th St., Fishers.
You can drop off worn flags any time in the weather-proof box at this location. You can also purchase new flags and get details about the next flag retirement ceremony at troop303flags.com. Read more about flag protocol at legion.org/flag/resources.