Boy Scout Troop 4029 to host American Flag Retirement Ceremony April 14

Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 4029 during a Memorial Day ceremony in 2025

Washington County’s local Boy Scout Troop 4029 will be hosting an American Flag Retirement Ceremony on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 pm. The ceremony is open to the public, and it will be held in the open lawn area of the Stevens Museum village (307 Market Street, Salem).

An American Flag Retirement Ceremony is typically a solemn and respectful affair. It is an opportunity for people to gather together to honor the often worn and tattered American Flags that have proudly flown high in our nation’s sky. As Jonathan Smith explains, the Boy Scouts of America are one of just a few groups recognized as being able to officially retire the flag.

“All are welcome to come and watch our local scout troop lay our country’s flag to rest by showing it the honor and respect it deserves after serving our great nation so faithfully,” he said. “Scout troops have the honor of being one of only a handful of organizations officially recognized to perform flag retirement services for ‘Old Glory,’ along with organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, fire departments and police departments.”

The retirement process is usually a standard practice among retirement ceremonies, so those planning to attend can expect a short ceremony involving a few words being spoken about the significance of the flag and those that fight to keep our nation free, as Boy Scout Troop 4029 unfolds the flag and prepares to lay it across the fire.

This solemn ceremony gives members of our community a chance to honor a flag that has served our nation with dignity. Boy Scout Troop 4029 invites all to attend Tuesday evening’s retirement of “Old Glory.”