Boy Scout fundraiser unfurls American flag at 126 Orange County homes

Most would agree that one of the pleasures of a holiday is the opportunity to sleep in, especially if you’re a teenager. But Boy Scouts from Troop 188 of Los Alamitos passed up that luxury last week for the sake of both patriotism and entrepreneurship.

As their friends snoozed on Memorial Day, the Scouts were up before the sun to start the inaugural task of Flags All Year — a paid service that displays Old Glory on front lawns six times a year.

“I thought this program would be for the older military guy who isn’t able to put up his own flag,” said Eagle Scout and dad Billy Howard, who came up with the idea. “But people of all ages have shown interest.”

For $55 aually, the troop will place a 3-by-5-foot American flag outside subscribers’ houses on Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day.

Funds raised through the program will help troop members attend camp in the summer.

For their debut outing on the recent Memorial Day, Scouts inserted plastic pipes in the yards to be used as permanent pole holders. They also stenciled small Boy Scout emblems on curbs to direct them to the holes in the future.

The baers will be planted by 8 a.m. and picked up before the sun goes down, per flag code.

On Memorial Day moing, three cars loaded with nine volunteers headed out from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Los Alamitos, where they had picked up 125 baers to unfurl at homes and businesses.

Troop families — starting with the Larsens — will take tus overseeing the flag mission.

Doug Larsen and his two sons had to leave a barbecue that afteoon to retrieve flags.

“I wonder if there will be any of that good steak left by the time we get back,” said Los Alamitos High junior Jake Larsen, 16, while the duo rode in the back of a small pickup driven by their father.

“That’s not going to happen,” responded Derek Larsen, 18, a senior at the high school. “It’s steak.”

All agreed it had been a worthwhile endeavor, said Howard: “There are people out there who want to show their patriotism but don’t have the time.”

— [email protected]

Advertisement