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Wlaf1450By Charlie Hutson
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Sunday morning started as a very wet and dreary day. But the plans for the flag retirement ceremony at East Lafollette Baptist Church (ELBC)were still a go, rain or shine. Although, due to the rough weather, the plans were adjusted to deal with the weather, the ceremony went off without a hitch. After all, the scout motto of “always be prepared” was on full display.
TOP PHOTO: Harper Cochran one of ELBC youth asked if she could help retire a flag and hands a flag to Troop 310 Assistant Scout Master Stewart Thacker.
The ceremony was conducted by Scout Troops 310, 311 and leaders of pack 108. More than 300 flags were collected to be retired.
The scouts asked if anyone would like to help retire a flags, and several volunteers stepped forward.
Troop 310 Assistant Scout Master Stewart Thacker accepts a flag from Dennis (Randy) Kitts, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. after 26 years of service. Sgt. Kitts volunteered to help retire a flag.
Vivian Loudy, U.S. Army Captain retired also volunteered to help retire a flag.
Those who helped with the ceremony include Troop 310 Second Class Scout Andy Wooden who clutches the flag that will be used for the ceremony.
On the front, Troop 310 Tender Foot Scout Zeke Phillips, Troop 310 Second Class Scout Andy Wooden, Troop 310 Troop Committee Chairman Chris Thacker, (back) Troop 310 Scout Master Cody Phillips, Troop 310 Assistant Scout Master Stewart Thacker. The are unfolding the flag and describing what each fold represents.
Eagle Scout Macy Kibler hands off a section of a flag to be retired to Troop 310 Assistant Scout Master Stewart Thacker.
Eagle Scout Macy Kibler, Troop 311 Tender Foot Scout Mackenzie Kibler, Troop 311 Secretary Amanda Johnson, Troop 311 Troop Committee Chairman Crystal Thacker, Behind Crystal is Troop Scout Master Jessica Phillips. The stand ready to deliver the stack of flags to the dedicated fire pit for retirement. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/29/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)