The V.F.W. Post 1371 Honor Guard participates at a flag burning ceremony on Sept. 15, held across from the American Legion on Front Street in Owego. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Embroidered on the right shoulder of every Boy Scout and Cub Scout uniform is the flag patch, an important symbol for scouts as they carry out the elements of the Scout law, slogan and motto. Scouts not only learn how to care and treat our flag with respect, but also acquire knowledge on how to properly retire the flag once it becomes faded or soiled, tattered or torn.
A flag burning ceremony was held on Sept. 15 across from the American Legion, located at 263 Front St. in Owego. Thousands of flags were gathered for the ceremony, and many that had been collected since Memorial Day.
On hand were scouts from Boy Scout Troop 60 and members of the American Legion Post 401 and V.F.W. Post 1371 Color Guard, all out of Owego.
Joshua Fahey, a senior at Owego Free Academy, conducted the flag burning ceremony as part of his Eagle Scout project.
Pictured, center, Joshua Fahey, a Boy Scout with Troop 60 in Owego, speaks during a flag burning ceremony on Sept. 15 as part of his Eagle Scout project. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Fahey joined the Boy Scouts in 2012 at the age of ten. After completing merit badges and attaining several Boy Scout ranks, Fahey decided to pursue the flag retirement ceremony as his Eagle Scout project, in part, as an effort to spread the message about the importance and proper care of U.S. flags once they are ready to be retired.
The flag burning ceremony is one of three separate parts of Fahey’s Eagle Scout project. At the ceremony, scouts recited the meanings of the red, white and blue stripes, among other significant characteristics of the U.S. flag.
Two other pieces of Joshua’s Eagle Scout project included his creation of a flag retirement ceremony handbook to be used in the future by fellow scouts, and in addition, a follow-up presentation to the scout group about the overall flag retirement procedure. Coordinating the V.F.W. and Legion members to be available for the ceremony was also a part of his project.
“I started the project plan about a year ago,” Fahey explained, adding, “I was actually denied twice (referring to approval from headquarters), but once I added more leadership aspects to the project, it was eventually approved.”
Scouts from Troop 60 in Owego, along with Bonnie Hand, the new Commander of American Legion Post 401 in Owego, participate in a flag burning ceremony on Sept. 15.
The Boy Scouts of America houses its national headquarters in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, and is the final approval point of all Eagle Scout projects.
Fahey went on to say that young people who are interested in the scouting program should not hesitate to join.
“It’s a great opportunity for everyone,” Fahey said, and among all of its advantages, he added, “It offers life lessons that you cannot attain elsewhere.”
“Eagle Scout is a huge achievement, and once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout,” commented Matt Lewis, Scoutmaster of Troop 60. Lewis also shared that less than three percent of all scouts achieve this rank.
Fahey said that achieving the rank of Eagle Scout may not be for everyone, and reiterated that overall, lessons learned, giving back to the community and having fun, along with many other aspects, are just as important and meaningful.
Members of American Legion Post 401 in Owego, along with scouts from Troop 60, salute as Joshua Fahey prepares for a flag burning ceremony.
According to Lewis, Boy Scout Troop 60 is the largest within the Baden-Powell district and has had eight Eagle Scouts in the last three years. For information about joining, contact Matt Lewis at (607) 624-0911.
The American Legion in Owego offers a drop-off point for flags that are in need of retirement. Simply place your flags in the U.S. Mail box located along the side of the building. Should you have questions, call (607) 687-3401.
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