Westfield Scouts live motto “Be Prepared” at Memorial Day Ceremony
By AMY ADAMS
For The Reporter
On Saturday, May 27, Scouts from BSA Boys Troop 107, Girls Troop 1070, and Cub Pack 126 in Westfield fulfilled their oath to do their duty to God and country when they stepped up to ensure that the more than 100-year tradition at Summit Lawn Cemetery continued.
These Scouting units have been performing the flag ceremony as part of this event for 10 to 15 years, maybe more considering Troop 107 is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
Ceremony attendee Jim Hester first got involved with Troop 107 when his oldest son joined about 20 years ago, and he served as the committee chair for years.
Life Scout Andrew Westra and retired Staff Sergeant Jeff Shelburne of the Indiana Army National Guard play “Taps.” (Reporter photo by Amy Adams)
“In Scouts, you’re always getting asked to go here, there, and everywhere,” Hester said. “Back then, our motto sort of became ‘Westfield Scouts for Westfield Families.’ This ceremony is part of that tradition.”
According to Barry Simpson, committee chair for Troop 1070, Scouts also took on the responsibility of playing “Taps” when the ceremony’s previous bugler, a World War II veteran, was no longer able to continue.
“All of this is voluntary,” Troop 107 Scoutmaster John Miles said. “The Scouts are all out here of their own will. As a veteran, I view Memorial Day as important. How do the kids know that unless we teach them?”
This ceremony proved to be quite a learning experience for the Scouts.
By 9:45 a.m., the Scouts were ready, as was the Honor Guard, composed of members of Carmel VFW Post 10003 and Carmel American Legion Post 155, which each merged with Westfield posts within the last 10 years. However, community members who were expected to conduct the ceremony had not arrived.
Realizing the problem, the Scouts quickly began coordinating an impromptu presentation.
At 10 a.m., without the usual podium and sound system, Life Scout Brad Bishop, a rising senior at Westfield High School, stepped up as host, welcoming guests to the event.
Four Scouts prepare to perform the flag ceremony at Summit Lawn Cemetery in Westfield. (Reporter photo by Amy Adams)
Four intermediate- and middle-school Scouts who weren’t expecting to conduct the flag ceremony, carefully lowered and raised the flag while onlookers saluted or placed their hands over their hearts.
Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Roy Adams, an assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 107, filled in as speaker, talking about what a former commander called the “blanket of freedom.”
“Some service members, including in my own formation, never got to come home,” Adams said. “That’s really what Memorial Day is about. We are remembering those who fought and gave the ultimate sacrifice for us and for our country, and they have provided us with that ‘blanket of freedom.’”
Following the extemporized speech, Life Scout Jackson Eyler, a rising junior at WHS whose father, Rob Eyler, is the chaplain for Troop 107, led those in attendance in a prayer followed by a moment of silence to honor the fallen.
As scheduled, the seven-member joint Honor Guard under Sergeant-at-Arms Steve Wyatt, from VFW Post 10003, fired the traditional three-volley salute with rifles, what some call a 21-gun salute.
A joint Honor Guard, composed of members of Carmel VFW Post 10003 and American Legion Post 155, under Sergeant-At-Arms Steve Wyatt, fired a traditional three-volley salute with rifles. (Reporter photo by Amy Adams)
While Life Scout Andrew Westra, a rising junior who plays tuba in the WHS Marching Band, was prepared to play “Taps” on his trombone, he also welcomed a last-minute change.
Retired Staff Sergeant Jeff Shelburne, a veteran of the Indiana Army National Guard, was visiting his wife’s grave at the cemetery with his sons Brad and Andy, also veterans. Shelburne, a past bugler and trumpeter for the 38th Infantry Division Band, had his instrument on hand. So Westra and Shelburne improvised a duet of the mournful song, with Shelburne playing harmony on his silver trumpet.
Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Roy Adams filled in as speaker for the Memorial Day event on Saturday, May 27. (Reporter photo by Amy Adams)
As if jumping in to fill unexpected positions isn’t impressive enough, following the conclusion of the ceremony by Bishop, about two dozen Scouts and leaders traveled to Carmel Cemetery on Range Line Road to assist with placing flags at veterans’ graves.
On Monday, a caravan of the same Scouting units traveled to participate in Memorial Day ceremonies in Westfield at Hamilton Memorial Park, Fallen Hoosier Heroes Memorial for Enduring Freedom, and Little Eagle Creek Cemetery and in Carmel at Old Blue Cemetery and at Carmel Cemetery.
They returned to Carmel Cemetery for a third time on Tuesday evening to help remove the flags for safekeeping and to place a coin on the gravestones as a symbol they paid their respects to the service member.
Find out more about Troops 107 and 1070 and Pack 126 at troopwebhost.org/Troop107Westfield and pack126.info and more about Carmel VFW Post 10003 at facebook.com/CarmelVFW and Carmel American Legion Post 155 at post155.org.