Ducktown Boy Scout Troop 14 and Cub Scout Pack 3014 held a flag retirement ceremony at the old Ducktown School in Ducktown, Tennessee, Saturday, November 9.
The young men and a number of residents gathered at the historic building on a chilly evening, and built two fire pits on the front walk of the school.
Scouts unfolded a large flag to be retired and held it high. Cub Master Kim Payne then began the ceremony by reciting a written piece honoring the flag. “Just a simple piece of colored cloth sewn together in red, white and blue design. A piece of cloth that itself does nothing more than hang and blow in the wind. However, each flag not only represents its own history but that of every flag that has flown before it.
“To many millions of people throughout our nation’s history it stands as a monument for the freedom of all Americans. I am your flag. I was born June 14, 1777... I am a silent symbol of freedom.”
With fellow Scouts holding the flag above the ground, Assistant Scout Master Jonothon Payne cut the canton, or field of stars, from the flag followed by each stripe. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts present were Payne, Dakota Harris, Jeremiah Hill, Christian Setser, Kegan Patterson, Jasper Mealer, Judson Allen and Matthew Payne
Each Scout took turns placing the stripes, and the field of stars, into the fire. After the large flag was properly retired, the Scouts paused to pay their respect by salute or a hand over their hearts.
Jonothon Payne believes it’s important to properly retire old flags. He said, “We retire them and make sure they have a proper burial.”