Purpose: To commemorate the 250th year of the United States of America and to demonstrate reverence and appreciation for the role our armed service members have played in our nation’s history. 

One of our most public and actionable services which instills a sense of civic duty is the retirement of the American flag. The proposal below aims to retire 250 American flags in a very deliberate and mentally present way. The number of flags to be retired, and the duration of the event (the full daylight cycle from sunrise to sunset) are deliberate as a means to convey respect and mindfulness even in moments of discomfort and inconvenience.

Sunrise: 5:30 EST
Sunset: 8:15 EST

Event Timeline: Sunday-Tuesday

Sunday

6:00 pm (running concurrent)

• Veterans from Council community light ceremonial tapers (one per Veteran)
• Tapers then collectively light ceremonial pillar candle in lantern case
• Lantern case is then collected by Troop level and transported to ceremonial fire location

6:00 pm (running concurrent)

• Adult Leaders within the OA begin constructing ceremonial fires

8:00 pm on Sunday preceding Memorial Day

• A ceremonial pillar candle arrives on site of ceremonial fires and is entrusted to the evening fire warden who camps out on site

Monday

4:30 am on Memorial Day morning

• Ceremonial fires are lit and tended by Youth Members of the OA if available under the direction of the evening fire warden.
• Two Adult Leaders arrive on site and take charge of the event and relieve the overnight fire warden.

5:30 am

• Retirement Ceremony, led by the OA, 
• Retirement procession continues for the next 9 hours in silence

3:00 pm local time

• All retirement processions are held idle for the playing of taps by single trumpet followed by a minute of silence in observance of the National Moment of Remembrance.

3:05 pm local time

• Retirement Ceremony is held once again
• The retirement procession continues for the next 5 hours in silence

8:15 pm local time

• A final flag is laid in retirement followed by a slow salute and recession of all remaining parties from the immediate vicinity. One dedicated Caretaker is left at each location to allow the fire to respectfully burn itself out over the course of the evening.

Tuesday8:00 am local time on Tuesday following Memorial Day

• The fire is raked and put dead out by use of water if necessary. All tents or signage are collected and removed from the area.
• Any and all remains collected from the fire ring for burial. ToPeNeBee location will be buried on site. The Res location will be transported for burial to Wood Lake.

Flag Retirement Procession:

• Each event location will have a clearly marked waterproof bin containing pre-folded American flags located at the intersection of a marked trail and the parking lot.
• Scouts will exit their vehicles in uniform and retrieve one flag.
• Cub level Scouts must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Troop/Crew/Ship level Scouts may be accompanied by parent or guardian
• Scouts will carry their flag against their chest with both arms crossed over the flag with point of flag facing up
• Scouts will proceed in silence along marked path to the fire location
• Day Fire Warden for location will motion for Scouts to approach
• Scouts and accompanying parties will silently unfold their flag and drape for presentation
• Unfurled flags will be laid in the fire and presenters will step back and perform a slow salute until the initial surge of flames concludes or until Adult Leader on site signals 
• Day Firewarden will motion for Scouts to exit the fire location along the marked path and for the next Scout to approach.