Grateful for community response to flag-retirement program

Boy Scout Troop No. 129 would like to thank all of the Old Bridge community members who participated in our flag-retirement program this year.

More than 1,500 flags in various sizes and states of disrepair were left at our pick-up locations throughout the township and were collected by Scouts on a regular basis. These flags were then reverently and correctly folded and stored.

A large number of the flags were retired in a moving ceremony during a joint Cub Scout/Boy Scout campfire at Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold, on the evening of June 10. Each Scout and family member had the opportunity to ceremoniously add a flag to the "retirement flame," while Scouts recited patriotic verses and historical facts about Old Glory.

An additional ceremony will be held at Kittatinny Mountain Scout Reser-vation, Branchville, the week of July 9 to retire the balance of the flags.

Community response to our project was beyond our wildest expectations. We are blessed to be a part of a community that treats our flag with such reverence, honoring those who gave their lives in its defense. Our thanks also go out to the churches and the Old Bridge Public Library for graciously allowing us to place our collection boxes in their facilities, as well as to the media outlets that permitted us to publicize. We hope for even more flags to be retired next year.

Skip Tamke

committee chairman

on behalf of Boy Scout Troop No. 129

St. Ambrose Church

Old Bridge