MOUNT ZION — Members of Mount Zion Scout Troop 43 unrolled about 200 American flags for their final unveiling.
Patriotic symbols served their country. Now was the time to rest in peace.
Community members joined Scouts and their families for the annual meeting Flag removal ceremony tuesday, National Flag Day, at the Mount Zion Lions Club Park Foundation Pavilion. Two small controlled fires accepted each flag for their departure.
Scoutmaster Kevin Johnson, center, holds the flag before it is taken down on Tuesday.
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“This event is very important because we want to honor the symbol of our freedom and freedom,” said Troop Leader Kevin Johnson. “We also want to be sure that we treat him as respectfully as possible.”
Many flags were tattered and worn, faded or discolored. Some were small and could have been easily waved by a child, while others were large enough to hover over a building. Others were known to have been draped over a veteran’s coffin.
The proper disposal of worn and tattered American flags is codified in federal law, Troop Leader Kevin Johnson said.
CLAY JACKSON, HERALD & REVIEW
Boy Scout Carson Watts, 14, has attended previous ceremonies. “I feel a very deep sense of pride to be able to do this and everyone here is able to contribute,” he said. “And I’m very grateful to the veterans and the people who served us.”
One of more than 200 flags removed on Tuesday is placed over a fire during a ceremony at Mount Zion.
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According to Johnson, the official flag removal ceremony is described by the American Legion. “This flag removal ceremony is codified in US federal law,” he said. “We want to do everything we can to make sure we respect that and do it right.”
The proper disposal of worn and tattered American flags is codified in federal law, Troop Leader Kevin Johnson said.
CLAY JACKSON, HERALD & REVIEW
During the pandemic, the ceremony was held virtually with community members watching online. “We did the ceremony on Facebook Live,” Carson said.
Tuesday’s ceremony began with the presentation of the color guard. The audience joined in the chanting of the “Stars and Stripes” and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The poems “I am your flag” and “It is the soldier” were read by local scouts.
The Boy Scouts salute the flag Tuesday during a flag removal ceremony at the Mount Zion Lions Club Park Foundation Pavilion. The annual event, which takes place on Flag Day, properly disposes of worn American flags. The ceremony included patriotic songs and readings.
CLAY JACKSON, HERALD & REVIEW
As the final flag was taken to the fire, “Taps” was played by 13-year-old scout Henry Blunt. “I only played there once,” he said.
The removed flags were picked up through drop off locations including Kenney’s Ace Hardware in Decatur, the Village Barbershop in Mount Zion, and VFW Post 99 in Decatur.
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The natural material flags were each unfolded by the scouts and their leaders, then placed above the open fires. Synthetic flags are eliminated using another technique, according to Johnson.
“Once the flags have passed through the ceremony, they are officially no longer flags,” he said. “But we have a controlled place where they will be burned. The fumes given off by synthetic flags tend to be toxic.
After the ceremony, Boy Scouts presented family members of the late Terry Bobbit and Malcolm Himes with 48-star American flags and other gifts. Bobbit was a member of the Dalton City American Legion. Himes was a longtime leader of Troop 43. The men were also military veterans.
“They were both instrumental in starting the first-ever flag-retiring ceremony here at Mount Zion at 43 Troop,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, within the past year, they have both passed away.”
Scoutmaster Kevin Johnson, center, holds the flag before it is retired Tuesday during the annual Flag Day Retirement Ceremony at the Mount Zion Lions Club Park Foundation Pavilion.
CLAY JACKSON, HERALD & REVIEW
According to the scouts, meeting for the ceremony was important to them as well as the result of the flags. “If it wasn’t for us, I believe these flags would sit and gather dust,” Carson said. “And it’s a great way to honor our country.”
“It’s also respectful to veterans who have served our country before,” Henry said.
From the archives: Boy Scouts and Decatur
Campfire
1941: As for Dan Beard, National Scout Commissioner who died, Boy Scouts at Camp Robert Faries keep a fire going constantly during the summer camping season. The boys take turns feeding the fire. In turn, left to right, Darrell Miller, Shelbyville; Peter Brown, Bement and Billy Bishop, Decatur.
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Scout camp store
1939: The camp store is a favorite place between hours of routine activity.
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Robert Faries camp swimming pool
1957: A group of Boy Scouts cool off in the pool at Camp Robert Faries, on the south shore of Lake Decatur at the end of South Shore Drive. The camp, now around 30 years old, provides an outdoor life for around 1,000 boys each summer. The campers come from the Lincoln Trails Council, which includes nine counties in central Illinois.
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Opening and closing of the camp for the day
1944: The ceremony that opens and closes the day at the scout camp is known throughout the country. Proudly, members of the United States Senior Uniformed Boys’ Organization stand to attention as the flag is raised.
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Totem
1962: “Work like a beaver, stay on the trail like a wolf, reach for the eagle,” this Camp Robert Faries totem says to Mattoon camp staffer Randy Harris. Decatur’s scouts carved the pole.
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door building
1932: Construction of the Boy Scout gate.
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Activities
1941: During the periods of relaxation, the boys read, discuss and clean their tents. At one of the tents are, from left to right, Griffin Nelson, Eugene Dale and Richard Cox, all of Decatur.
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Arts and crafts
1941: Handicrafts are a popular activity and each camper makes objects out of wood, leather or metal. Decatur’s Bobby Ickes works on a pair of loafers, while Mervin Morris, also of Decatur, weaves a belt.
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knot work
1962: When the Boy Scouts go to camp, they go, as their slogan says, prepared. So it was this spring that 14-year-old Jim Majors (right) spent a few days at Camp Robert Faries in junior leader training to learn his duties as a senior patrol leader when his troop, Decatur’s 9 Troop, was went to camp. Here Randy Harris from camp staff shows Jim some knot work.
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Wash the dishes
1950: Crockery for Boy cCout Camp Opening is Drew Meldahl, Explorer Post 2014 (front); Golden Hullinger, Troop 13 and Marvin Heffington, Troop 8 (back).
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Award ribbons
1962: Jim Majors (right) and members of Troop 9 admire award ribbons received at Camp Robert Faries.
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Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR