New Tampa Eagle Scout Project Gives U.S. Flags Proper Retirement

All-American holidays honoring veterans, celebrating our independence and remembering those fallen in defense of it are times when citizens, old and new, proudly display the Stars and Stripes. But, what is to be done with Old Glory when it becomes worn and tattered and needs to be replaced and properly retired?

Grant Collie, a 17-year-old New Tampa Boy Scout, has an answer.

With construction help from family and fellow Scouts, using materials donated by the  Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Tampa Palms, Collie built two drop boxes for people to deposit worn flags as his Eagle Scout service project.

Flags that are turned in at Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 on Green Pine Ln., off of Cross Creek Blvd. (about one-half-mile east of Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.), will be respectfully retired in ceremonies conducted by Boy Scout Troop 148, which is chartered by St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in New Tampa, where the troop also meets.

Collie undertook the project as part of his quest to become an Eagle Scout. One of the requirements to obtain that status is to complete a service project that benefits the community and demonstrates leadership.

Collie says he became aware of the need when he attended a flag retiring ceremony a few years ago.

“My Boy Scout troop had a flag retirement ceremony at the Lazydays RV Resort campground in Seffner a few years ago, and since then, people have been asking at the office there if they can turn in flags,” the Wharton High grad says.

According to the United States Flag Code, organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the military and some veterans organizations are authorized to conduct flag retirement ceremonies.

Collie hopes the boxes, which will be placed at Lazydays RV Resort in Seffner and Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 in New Tampa, will make it easier for people to turn in their flags. “My troop will periodically empty the boxes, collect the flags and perform a flag ceremony,” he says.

Collie has been involved in Scouting since he was a first-grader at Richard F. Pride Elementary.

He credits the Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders, specifically Bryan Noll and current Troop 148 Scoutmaster David Thompson, for helping him “Be Prepared” for his future endeavors, starting with attending the University of Florida in Gainesville this fall to study electrical engineering.

“Scouting has been a huge part of my life,” Collie says. “It’s taught me about responsibility and independence. ‘Be Prepared’ is the motto, and I live my life by that.”

According to Thompson, the leadership Collie is demonstrating with his flag box project is consistent with what he has shown in his Troop 148 activities.

“He has been a great mentor, teaching younger Scouts about the flag,” says Thompson, who suggests people fold their flags and put them in plastic bags when they deposit them in the box.

Collie’s parents are proud as their son advances toward becoming an Eagle Scout and appreciate the role Scouting has in their son’s life.

His father, Phillip Collie, says the flag box project revealed an emerging side of his son’s character to him as he observed the work in progress. “He was very much in charge and showed a lot of leadership skills,” Phillip says.

Laura Collie is similarly pleased with the influence Scouting and the service project have had on her son.

“I’ve seen him grow in maturity and respect toward others,” she says.

Fire Captain John Donnelly is in charge of Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) Station No. 21 and sought approval to place the box at the station.

In the letter to TFR Chief Thomas Forward, Donnelly wrote, “I think this would be a great way to assist Grant in achieving his goal, while allowing the citizens of Tampa a dignified way to retire their American flags.”

Forward granted permission and a box was placed at Station 21 on Aug. 2.

When Collie delivered the box (far right), Donnelly commented on the project’s alignment with TFR’s purpose.

“Our goal is to aid the community and this goes along with that,” he said.

People wanting to drop flags off at Fire Station No. 21 should enter through the main office door and they will be directed to the box, says Donnelly.

Collie expressed optimism the boxes at the fire station and at Lazydays RV Resort will get a lot of use. 

“I know there’s lots of people around here who have (old or tattered) flags, so I’m hoping they’ll bring them here so we can have ceremonies and retire them,” Collie says.

Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 is located at 18902 Green Pine Ln., off Cross Creek Blvd. Lazydays RV Resort is located at 6210 C.R. 579 in Seffner.