One by one, members of Boy Scout Troop 139 placed pieces of the American flag into a fire behind St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church on Sunday.
"It's showing honor to our flag, respecting it," said Kaleb Walker, a 13-year-old member of the troop, who held an American flag, and played taps on a trumpet during the ceremony.
The troop held the flag retirement ceremony and dedicated a flagpole to commemorate the Independence Day holiday. The flagpole was donated by Ace Flag Co. in Depew and is the first flagpole at the Northampton Street church, where Troop 139 is based.
"How great it is to have a flag flying at our church," said the Rev. Ronald P. Sajdak.
Learning how to properly retire the flag is one of many life lessons and skills learned by the members of Troop 139.
The troop consists of boys ages 5 to 15 from the inner city. Leona Harper, committee chairwoman, restarted the troop six years ago after it had been gone for several years.
"I started it because there was such a need in our community to teach our young men how to become men," Harper said.
The troop now has about 60 members, between the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, and is the largest inner-city troop in the country, said Denise Taylor, the cubmaster.
Kaleb said that since joining the troop, he has learned leadership skills, responsibility and the value of treating others how you want to be treated.
"Helping out people - it gives me a good feeling inside," he said.
Respecting the flag is especially important to Walker, who said he wants to join the Navy or the Air Force before eventually going to medical school.
The scouts learn everything from how to swim and how to pitch a tent to becoming a community leader and understanding how government works. Last year, two boys from the troop went to a retreat in New Mexico, and this summer the Cub Scouts will go to camp for the first time. In September, the troop will host an inner-city camping event in a park across from the church.
Common Council Majority Leader Demone A. Smith, who represents the Masten District, has been involved with Troop 139 for three years, and serves as assistant scoutmaster. He enjoys serving as a mentor for the scouts.
"I see the difference that it makes," he said. "All of the things that we do - the conversations that we have, the advice that I give them and the comfort that they have in coming to talk to me."
Troop 139 is blessed with strong community and parental support. The opportunities and equipment the boys have, including uniforms and tents, are more than many other inner-city troops have, said James Morrell, scoutmaster.
The troop's strong base in the church is also an important source of support. Sajdak supports the troop 100 percent and is very active, Harper said. The troop and the church have a shared goal of building additional space onto the church where the boys can have meetings and other gatherings.
For Harper, any difference the troop can make in a boy's life is worth all of the effort.
"If we can save one youth, one young man, we've done a lot," she said. "This is very, very deep to my heart."
