Boy Scouts volunteer over Memorial Day weekend

It was a busy community service weekend for Boy Scouts of Troop 160. On Friday night, the scouts gathered at Oak Lawn Cemetery in West Plains with area veterans, community leaders, and other local volunteers to place small US flags on every veteran grave site in the cemetery.  

 

At 6:00 a.m. on Monday, the scouts met again to raise to half mast US flags on every flag post surrounding the entire cemetery. Then, later that day and working with other volunteers, the scouts met again to lower and fold each flag and to pick up all of the smaller flags. The scouts also worked on Memorial Day events at Howell Memorial Cemetery. The troop has been helped extensively at veteran events by younger scouts with Cub Scout Pack 248 of West Plains.

 

Scoutmaster Kevin Smith says its one of the most important responsibilities the scouts have each year, and a great learning experience for the boys and our countries’ future leaders. Under the Scout Oath Smith notes that each scout is honor bound to do his or her best to both “God and country.” Since 1997, the Troop 160 scouts have been working hard to help veterans with the Memorial ceremonies. 

 

Smith has been volunteering with the scouting program as Troop 160 scoutmaster since 1984. Smith is one of the longest continuously serving scoutmasters in the United States (over 40 years).