Maynard Fire Department Receives Flag Retirement Box Built by Maynard Boy Scout Troop 130

MAYNARD — Chief Angela Lawless is pleased to announce that the Maynard Fire Department will receive a retirement flag donation box, courtesy of a local Boy Scout troop.

The flag pickup box will take place at the Maynard Fire Station and is open to the public year-round. The box will be used to collect old flags deemed ready to be retired.

The box was built and designed by Maynard Troop 130 as an Eagle Scout project. Maynard resident and member of Troop 130, Assabet Valley Regional Vocational and Technical High School student Colt Jackson, currently studying HVAC/R, led the project.

Other members of Troop 130 who worked on the project include Francis Kilroy, John Berghaus, Will Cramer, Emma Nevilles, Cal Mathison, Wesley Teague, Ronan Rafter and Pierce Rafter.

The project lasted more than a year.

Determining whether a flag should be retired is based on whether it is torn in any way or whether its color has faded. Once it is determined that a flag should be retired, a ceremony must be held to officially retire the flag, which includes a folding and burning ceremony.

Troop 130, in conjunction with the Maynard-Clinton Elks Lodge, will hold an official flag retirement ceremony on June 14, Flag Day. The ceremony will take place at Veterans Memorial Park on Summer Street, beginning at 6 p.m.

The ceremony will include the unveiling of the box and the retirement of a flag by members of the Elks.

Jackson will also distribute 24 flags in exchange for old or worn flags. Flags will be first come, first served.

“I want to express our sincere thanks to Maynard Boy Scout Troop 130 for their hard work on this project and for providing us with the flag donation box,” said Chief Lawless. “We are honored to be able to bring this magnificent flag box to life in our new station. We encourage residents and community members who may have old or worn flags ready for retirement to drop them off at the station.

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