Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow's
'One Day of Service'      

[APRIL 19, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Boy Scouts of America, working through the Illinek Lodge of the Order of the Arrow of the Abraham Lincoln Council, had their annual "One Day of Service" on Saturday to retire worn and tattered American flags.

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts collected worn American flags at 14 locations throughout the Abraham Lincoln Council, which includes Morgan, Sangamon, Montgomery, Christian, Menard, Cass, Scott and part of Green County. Several of the area businesses in Jacksonville and Springfield collected worn and tattered American flags the week before.

The Scouts collected the flags in the morning at the designated collection stations and then brought the worn American flags to the council’s camp, Camp Illinek, on Lake Springfield to be given a proper retirement. The retirement ceremonies started at 9 a.m. and lasted until 4:30 p.m.

The Boy Scouts retired more than 1,000 worn flags Saturday. This was over 300 more than the Boy Scouts retired in previous years. This year, members of the Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts worked approximately 400 total hours in a combined effort to make this event a success.

[News release provided by Troop 31 Scoutmaster Bob Schmidt]