Dayton’s Boy Scout Troop 8, part of the Three Rivers Council 578, Trinity District, will ceremoniously retire more than 1,000 flags on January 25, at 10 a.m.
The troop’s senior patrol leader, Christopher Lewis, will be Master of Ceremonies for the flag retirement ceremony, which will take place at The Crossroads, located at 111 N. Church St. Parking and access to the plaza is located on Cook Street, and in the City Hall parking lot (117 Cook St.)
The flags, which were collected in the Crossroads Plaza flag box, will be retired according to the United States Flag Code, which dictates that “the flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” The Boy Scout of America Handbook states: “A national flag that is worn beyond repair may be burned in a fire. The ceremony should be conducted with dignity and respect and the flag burned completely to ashes.”
Flags can also be retired by cutting, avoiding the tearing of the blue star field. Once the flag is cut, it is no longer an official flag and can be disposed.
The Crossroads Plaza flag box is a collaborative project between the Scout troop, the Dayton Enhancement Committee and the City of Dayton. Anyone who has a worn American flag is encouraged to drop it off in the box for proper disposal.
The public is invited to attend and learn more about proper handling of the American flag, and the local BSA troop, which has produced 15 local Eagle Scouts, with a 16th Scout to achieve that rank in the spring.
In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled.