IKEGO HOUSING DETACHMENT, Japan — About 30 Cub Scouts and their family members gathered around a fire over the weekend to ceremoniously retire American flags donated to the group over the past two years.
Saturday’s ceremony was part of a semi-annual camping trip for Yokosuka Pack 33 at the Ikego West Valley Campground, adjacent to Ikego Housing Detachment. It was a first for many of the elementary school-aged kids in attendance, said Greg Zimmerman, committee chairman for the pack.
“I think this gives them a sense of patriotism,” he told Stars and Stripes ahead of the event.
A Cub Scout with Yokosuka Pack 33 holds onto an old American flag at Ikego West Valley Campground near Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, May 6, 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Around 2 p.m., the Scouts lined up in front of a fire according to their respective ranks — from kindergarten-aged Lion Scouts to fourth- and fifth-grade Webelos — where they recited the national anthem and learned about the ceremony’s importance.
“These [flags] are a reminder of our nation and those who defended our freedom, and they have served us well,” Zimmerman told the Scouts. “The United States Flag Code states that flags, when they’re in such condition that they’re no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way — preferably by burning.”
Cub Scouts with Yokosuka Pack 33 stand at attention during a flag retirement ceremony at Ikego West Valley Campground near Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, May 6, 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Yokosuka Pack 33 Cubmaster Susan Duenas helps a Cub Scout retire an American flag at Ikego West Valley Campground near Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, May 6, 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Cub Scouts with Yokosuka Pack 33 take part in a flag retirement ceremony at Ikego West Valley Campground near Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, May 6, 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Yokosuka Pack 33 Cubmaster Susan Duenas explains why old American flags are cremated during a ceremony at Ikego West Valley Campground near Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, May 6, 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
The Scouts and their pack leaders ultimately retired 17 flags, many of which were donated by individual commands, including Yokosuka Naval Hospital, and by families changing duty stations.
The ceremony is one of the ways Pack 33 serves the community, but it doubles as an educational opportunity for the Scouts, said Pack 33 Cubmaster Susan Duenas. The junior branch of Boys Scout of America emphasize a series of values that include being loyal, helpful, courteous and reverent.
“We’re carrying out our value of a Scout’s reverence by showing reverence to the flag, honoring our country and promoting good citizenship,” she told Stars and Stripes after the ceremony.
After the flags were retired, the Scouts broke off into groups, where they discussed the ceremony with pack leaders and other adults. When asked by a parent why they thought they were retiring the flags, one of the Scouts replied that they were treating it with dignity because “we’re proud of the flag because it resembles the U.S.”
Even the Webelos were a bit surprised at the nature of the ceremony, said their den leader, Navy Lt. Eric Gonzalez.
“I think for a lot of them, they had no idea,” he said. “The idea of burning a flag was really strange to them, even foreign. When I was talking to some of the kids, they said it was kind of sad. So, I think it’s important to teach them about the symbols of our nation and what this means.”
