Cub Scout Pack 311 Participates in Flag Retirement Ceremony

Last Friday evening, three dozen boys dressed in caps and neckerchiefs lined up in single file, each holding a square of cloth cut from an American flag. They were participating in the Cub Scout Pack 311 Flag Retirement Ceremony, and for many of them it was their first.

The flag had flown over the Lockheed Plant in Burbank, now home to the Empire Shopping Center. There were no holes, stains or visible wear and tear, but the flag had become threadbare, and it was time to lay it to rest.

But first there was time in a bit of fun. The scouts gathered at the Sam Goldman Amphitheatre at Franklin Canyon Park just off Coldwater Canyon Boulevard and Mullholand Drive at 6:30 pm. They brought their parents, siblings, and friends who were new to the pack or possible recruits who were interested in seeing what a Cub Scout event was like. Andy Bleckinger, the park’s Interpretive Naturalist led the group in goofy camp songs, shared some fables, and told the boys interesting facts about owls (did you know they can turn their heads 270 degrees in each direction, or a total of 540 degrees for a full turn?). He performed interactive demonstrations on hearing and explained why owls hear better than humans (their ears are not symmetric). The boys were also allowed to pet a skunk pelt, and then cook S’mores over the campfire.

Then it was time for the Flag Retirement Ceremony. As patriotic music played through a sound system, Scoutmaster Glenn Coté told the scouts the significance of the colors of the flag as his sons Griffin and Graeme dressed like soldiers from Revolutionary War and read aloud from Glenn’s script. The older scouts began to cut the flag into squares, and a veteran who was the father of one of the den leaders carried the folded blue star field of the flag to the campfire, kissed it, then gently placed it on the flames. The boys lined up behind him and each threw a flag square into the fire.

The evening concluded with the boys receiving a special flag retirement badge and an update of summer events. Some of these include picnic and fishing at Lake Balboa on Sunday, June 23rd, monthly hiking trips, participation in the Valley Village 4th of July parade, various summer camps, a beach day, and a Labor Day bike hike with a family potluck picnic. Boys in the 1st through 5th grades are welcome to join the pack. Meetings take place monthly at Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village. The Cub Scout Pack 311 website can be found by clicking here.