An honorable disposal: Eagle Scout project to help properly retire flags
Nov 9, 2019
Douglas Santos completed his Eagle Scout on Saturday, Nov. 9 by building for a community fire pit designated to retire American flags at Wareham American Legion Post 220. On the photo from left to right: Troop 39’s scoutmaster, Chris Moulding, Bryce Moulding, Douglas Santos, Braden Coryer. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova
Douglas Santos is ready to retire the first flag. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova
Being a Boy Scout since the first grade, Douglas Santos owns 20 merit badges. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova
Douglas Santos and his fellow Boy Scouts are ready to retire the second flag. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova
Douglas Santos proudly looks at his perfectly funcoing fire pit. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova
Douglas Santos and his fellow Boy Scouts are trying to figure how to properly burn third, the biggest flag. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova
Three American flags were retired with proper honors during a Saturday ceremony at the Wareham American Legion Post 220.
And it all got started with a 15-year-old Upper Cape Tech student, Douglas Santos.
“I and other scouts started it about a month ago. We wanted to get it all done for the Veterans Day, especially because it is the 100th year anniversary of the American Legion Post this year,” said Santos. “I built this fire pit mainly for the veterans but it will also benefit the community.”
Santos, who is a proud owner of 20 merit badges, has been involved with the Boy Scouts since the first grade and will soon become an Eagle Scout after completing this special project.
A few months ago, he approached the veterans organization to see how he could help them.
Bob Powilatis, the Commander for American Legion Post 220, said, “We are really pleased, appreciative and thankful of this young Eagle Scout and his members and relatives that helped build this so that there is a place here for the benefit of the community and the Legion.”
Santos, along with the other 20 scouts of Troop 39, added the square concrete foundation then built the burn pit. But Santos did not stop there: he also sanded and repainted American Flag Retirement Drop Box in front of the Legion. All materials needed were donated by local businesses.
The new burn pit is just “one example of a project that unites our community,” said Troop 39’s scoutmaster, Chris Moulding, adding that “to do something like a flag burning ceremony really connects the community and gives the sense of togetherness.”
“Scouts is all about that: serving people doing something important for the community and bringing folks together,” said Moulding.
