Gilwell Gazette

A Scout provided instruction in flag etiquette and also performed a flag retirement ceremony for his Star service project at a Camporee a few years ago. He advertised in the local newspapers to locate flags that needed to be retired and the Scout and his father drove to the homes to pick up the old and sometimes tattered flags. Some simply handed the Scout the flags, but many told the Scout of times they had flown the flag and just how much that particular flag meant to them. One had tears running down his cheeks as he offered the flag for retirement. The Scout still talks about that experience today.

Flag retirement ceremonies are a great way to bring Citizenship into your Scouting programs. However, there are a number of misconceptions about flag retirement ceremonies that can lead to consternation, especially when someone in your audience gets vocal about what ?you?re doing wrong??? right in the middle of the ceremony!

The Fox patrol will review the legal requirements for a flag retirement ceremony, the misconceptions that can interfere with the ceremony and will demonstrate a simple flag retirement ceremony. We look forward to your participation.