The Cub Scouts Burned Flags on Tuesday

By Doug Graves © 2007

When the American flag is burned, the average American knows that in some parts of the world it is an act of desecration by groups wanting to thumb their noses at the United States. Those of us over 35 might remember Chicago Bears outfielder and former Marine Rick Monday snatching an American flag from two men trying to burn it in protest at Dodger Field in 1976.
But when the Boy Scouts and the Cub Scouts burned flags on Tuesday, September 11 in Hanover Township it was done with the highest honors and great dignity. The Scouts were the hosts at a ceremonial retirement of old American Flags. They also invited the public and local leaders to join them for a Patriot’s Day remembrance of 9/11.
Older Boy Scouts taught Cub Scouts how to fold the flag in the triangular shape reminiscent of the Revolutionary War soldier’s three cornered hats. Altogether the Scouts received 120 flags from the community to properly dispose of them.
Scout Master Mike Caffrey of Troop 352 conducted the ceremony. “Remember the valiant heroes who gave their lives to help each other,” he said to the crowd of approximately 125.
Father Carmen Bolock, chaplain for Boy Scout Troop 362 and for the Nancy Run Fire Department said a prayer.
State Senator Pat Browne briefly spoke to the somber group. “We were all with them on 9/11,” he said.
Steve Dashe, Cathy Schneible and J. Schrader played patriotic music for the late afternoon occasion. The crowd sang as the musicians played “God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful,” and “This Land is My Land.”
Ryan Neel, an Easton High School senior and aspiring professional musician, sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Justin Amann, 14 a student at Liberty High School sang “Amazing Grace.”
Keynote speaker and 9/11 rescue responder Jim Sorenfon, a retired New York City fireman but then working as a fire training officer in the World Trade Center, was at home when he got the call saying “We’ve been hit.”
He said he got in his car and drove into Manhattan. By the time he got there the first tower had collapsed. “All I could do was to become a fireman again and start to help.”
He reminded the boys that all Americans have the duty to uphold the Constitution and that can be done in many was, but to him it meant helping people when they need it in what ever way you can.
“We were covered in cement dust, our mouths choked and our eyes burning,” he said. “I remember a woman, up to her ankles in dust, came with bottles of water and washed the cement out of the men’s eyes. There was a nun standing at Liberty and Church giving out sandwiches.”
Bethlehem Township resident Heather Barbosa released 21 white pigeons to represent a salute to fallen heroes. The owner of “Say It With Doves” said she performs her tribute free for the annual ceremony. She also provides the same service free for the families of service men and women who have been killed in combat.
Boy Scout Devon Dominici, 16, a sophomore at Bethlehem Catholic High School, read “Autobiography of a Flag.”
Scout leader and Bethlehem business man James Smith received the flags as they were passed to him hand to hand by Cub Scouts. Smith then ceremoniously placed each flag in the fires blazing from one of the two 50-gallon steel barrels set up for the ceremony. Black, acrid smoke from many flags made of synthetic material billowed into the darkening sky.