West Cook News

During a recent Cicero board meeting, the Scouts of America introduced a new initiative aimed at properly retiring American flags. The presentation took place on November 26, 2024, with Cicero resident Gino Catania leading the effort alongside his family and Scoutmasters Tom and Jamie.

Dan Wolf, Director of Fleet Maintenance, praised the Scouts' efforts: “They built this box to scout American flags. This is a big deal.”

Assistant Scoutmaster Jamie Rivera highlighted the significance of achieving the Eagle Scout rank: “To become an Eagle Scout, you have to earn many merit badges and complete a significant project… all of this has to be done by their 18th birthday,” Rivera noted.

Gino Catania's project involved creating a flag retirement box to collect worn American flags for proper disposal. Speaking on behalf of the Scouts, Gino explained, “We built this because my grandpa’s a vet, and we want to retire flags properly. We’ve heard of people throwing flags away, and we wanted to give them the respect they deserve.”

The Scouts described the retirement process as involving ceremonial burning followed by collecting cooled grommets for repurposing. Jamie Rivera affirmed: “This is the proper way to retire an American flag. It’s an honorable tradition, and it ensures the flag’s dignity is maintained even in retirement.”

Earning Eagle Scout status is rare, achieved by only about 6% of Scouts nationwide. Rivera commended Gino's dedication: “Becoming an Eagle Scout is very tedious, and it’s not for everyone. Gino is part of that distinguished group who make it.”

The board meeting concluded with praise for the Scouts' community service initiative. The project honors veterans like Gino's grandfather while upholding respectful traditions for retiring national flags.

Residents with American flags needing retirement are encouraged to use the new flag retirement box located in town hall's foyer.