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Tuesday's Internet Edition, January 06, 2009.
Wilton teen picks patriotic Eagle Scout project
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Photo by Fran Soto
Wilton resident Sean Sexton, a member of Boy Scout Troop 581, has designed a collection box for old tattered flags. He is constructing the box for his Eagle Scout project.
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By Fran Soto
River Valley Times Staff
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Wilton resident Sean Sexton, a member of Boy Scout Troop 581, saw a need in his community, and that need materialized into an idea for his Eagle Scout project as Sexton decided to build a flag retirement collection box as his Eagle Scout project
“Driving around Wilton I saw a lot of old and tattered flags,” Sexton said. “My mom turned me on to the idea. Some people have an old flag but don’t know where to take it.”
As part of his project, Sexton also contacted Chief Tom Dark with the Wilton Fire Protection District (WFD) about locating the box at Fire Station 81 on Dillard Road.
As old flags are collected, the Boy Scouts will hold a flag retiring ceremony once or twice a year to properly dispose of the flags. As part of his project, Sexton is also writing a manual on the proper procedure for a flag retirement ceremony.
Sexton has already scheduled the first ceremony for Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at the WFD Fire Station 81 at the corner of Wilton and Dillard roads. “We plan a small flag ceremony to kick things off,” he said. “I’m hoping to have some old flags donated before then.”
Sexton has been a Wilton resident for seven years and member of the Boy Scouts since the sixth grade. He financed his project through word of mouth. “I sent out an e-mail and said this is what I’m going to do,” he said.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, several Scouts gathered at Scoutmaster Dave Chase’s home to construct the box. Sexton had drafted the design himself using a mailbox as an example. “There is a lot of cutting involved so some of the older Scouts that know about power tools will be helping build the box,” he said. “The younger Scouts will do the painting.”
On Sunday, Nov. 2 the box was painted, and then the following Wednesday the box was installed at the WFD Station 81 in time to collect flags for the first ceremony.
Sexton stressed that the flag is a symbol of the United States and needs to be kept in pristine condition. “Flying a tattered flag is disrespectful to our country,” he said. “I hope that all flags that need to be retired will be taken to the fire station.”
Sexton graduated from high school in June and plans to enlist in either the U. S. Marine Corp. or the Air Force in the near future.
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