Los Alamos Reporter

Local Troop 122 Scout Brandon Keller Completes Eagle Project To Honor The American Flag: Places Flag Collection Boxes In Community

SCOUTING TROOP 122 NEWS RELEASE

Brandon Keller, a member of Scouting America Troop 122, has completed an Eagle Scout Service Project that will provide the Los Alamos community with a meaningful way to properly retire worn and damaged American flags.

As part of his project, Brandon designed, built, and installed three secure American Flag Collection Boxes at community locations throughout Los Alamos. The boxes are now available for residents to deposit unserviceable U.S. flags so they can be retired with the honor and dignity they deserve.

The collection boxes are located at:

  • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 8874
  • Los Alamos Masonic Lodge No. 66
  • Los Alamos Eco-Station

Each collection box was carefully constructed by Brandon with the assistance of fellow Scouts and adult volunteers from Troop 122. Throughout the project, Brandon coordinated planning, obtained approvals, purchased materials, organized volunteers, supervised construction, and arranged the placement of each collection box with the participating organizations.

The project reflects one of the central goals of the Eagle Scout rank—identifying a community need and leading others in providing a lasting solution.

“The American flag represents the sacrifices and freedoms that generations of Americans have defended,” Brandon said. “I wanted to make sure our community has an easy way to retire worn flags respectfully instead of throwing them away.”

Flags collected from the three locations will be stored until this fall, when members of Troop 122, local veterans, and community organizations will conduct a formal American Flag Retirement Ceremony. During the ceremony, each flag will be respectfully retired in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code and long-standing military and Scouting traditions.

The project was made possible through the support of several community partners, including the Los Alamos Masonic Lodge No. 66, VFW Post No. 8874, the Los Alamos Eco-Station, Troop 122 leaders, Scout volunteers, and numerous adult mentors who donated their time and expertise.

The Eagle Scout rank is the highest achievement in Scouting America and requires candidates to plan, develop, and lead a significant community service project demonstrating leadership, organization, and commitment to serving others. Only a small percentage of Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank.

Residents are encouraged to use the new collection boxes whenever an American flag becomes worn, faded, torn, or otherwise no longer suitable for display. Rather than placing the flag in the trash, community members can help ensure it receives the respectful retirement it has earned.

As flags continue to be collected over the coming months, Brandon hopes the project will not only provide a valuable public service but also encourage greater appreciation for the nation’s flag and the ideals it represents.

For more information about the American Flag Collection Program or the upcoming Flag Retirement Ceremony this fall, contact Scouting America Troop 122.