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Published June 1st, 2016

A Place for Flags Beyond Repair

By Cathy Dausman

Boy Scouts stand by Victor Petersen's project. Photo Cathy Dausman

Old Glory spends a lot of time outdoors. Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day, Election Day and state and federal holidays are all occasions to fly the red, white and blue. But exposure to the elements eventually takes its toll, and flag etiquette forbids simply throwing away even a damaged U.S. flag.

Flags are instead ceremonially retired with honor, by an organization like scout troops, Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion posts (see www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue0618/Goodbye-Old-Glory-Scouts-Retire-Two-US-Flags.html ).

The challenge can be getting the tattered flag into the right hands. Now, thanks to Boy Scout Victor Petersen of Pleasant Hill's Troop 405, it's easy.

Unserviceable U.S. flags may be deposited in a box at the entrance to the Lafayette Veteran's Memorial Center. Work on the box, which was Petersen's Eagle Scout project, began last summer under the direction of VFW Post 8063 member and scout leader Bill Lew. The finished product was installed in March.

Victor said placing the collection box at the center seemed especially appropriate because the VFW is the chartering organization for several local Boy Scout troops. He initially considered refurbishing an old mailbox but found those were scarce. Instead he used a standard courier box from a hardware store and had a local auto body shop custom paint it red, white and blue. Donations for the purchase of the box and its paint job came from Victor's grandfather.

Lew said a few finishing touches - specifically the installation of American Legion and VFW logos on the box- remain. He is unsure just how many flags have been collected to date. "I know flags have gone into the box, but I couldn't give you a count," he said. He will tell you the finished product is beautiful.

Mt. Diablo Silverado Council BSA District Director Joe Squeri said Brentwood Veteran's Memorial Hall also has a flag collection box.

Local Cub Scouts incorporated a flag retirement ceremony during Family Camp over Memorial weekend, he said, adding, "We have a volunteer who is beginning a program to get flags that need retiring to Boy Scout troops that can retire them."



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