Ormond Beach Boy Scout Troop 403 retires 500 U.S. flags

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, about 500 U.S. flags were properly retired by local Boy Scout Troop 403.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 10:50 p.m. October 24, 2017

Caleb Wooten, 15, Donald Graybeal, 11, Pearce Billings, 11, and Kyler Crafton, 11, prepare the flags for the ceremony outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Boy Scout Troop 403 retired about 500 flags during the ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Dylan Kaney, 11, places a blue star-spangled field portion of the flag in the fire during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Wyatt Reynolds, 13, places a blue star-spangled field portion of a flag into the fire during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

A boy scout waits for his turn to place a portion of a retired flag into the fire during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Retired flags burn in the ceremonial fire during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Boy Scouts wait for their turn to place retired flags in the fire during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Retired flags are cut into pieces during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Bryce Wooten, 13, places portions of the U.S. flag into the fire during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Retired flags burn in the ceremonial fire during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Logan Treglia, 13, tosses separated sections of the U.S. flag during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Retired flags burn in the ceremonial fire during the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Boy Scouts of Troop 403 perform the Boy Scout Oath after the flag retirement ceremony held outside the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
News

The Ormond Beach Boy Scout Troop 403 held a flag retirement ceremony for about 500 flags in the grounds of the Christ Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

"When we dispose the flags correctly, it shows respect to our country, instead of disrespecting it, and showing pride that you're an American and you believe in our country and you're proud," said 13-year-old Bryce Wooten, senior patrol leader for Troop 403.

This was Wooten's first year planning the ceremony as senior patrol leader, though it is his third as a Boy Scout. He said they all plan the ceremonies during patrol leader counsels.

"The U.S. flag is more than just some brightly colored cloth," Wooten said during the ceremony. "It is a symbol of our nation."

Troop 403 has 42 members and they perform at least one flag retirement ceremony a year. Scoutmaster Bob Truilo said they receive flags throughout the year from people who want to make sure they are properly retired.

"As the parts of the flag are placed in the fire, remember old flags never die," Wooten said. "They just get fired up."