DUBLIN, CA — A troop of local Scouts from Dublin and Pleasanton wrote 250 letters to veterans in honor of the country's 250th anniversary. Each letter included a piece of worn American flags no longer suitable for display.
Star Scout Nithilan Balasubramanian led the Old Glory Retirement Drive 2026, which collected worn flags from around the community. Volunteers then included a piece of the flags' blue star field in letters that they wrote to thank local veterans. The flags were collected with the help of VFW Post 6298 Commander Steve Thompson, who donated retired flags and helped garner support for the project.
"The ambitious initiative set out with two profound goals: providing a dignified avenue to retire worn American flags, and unleashing a massive wave of gratitude toward veterans through deeply personal, handwritten letters," Balasubramanian said.
One veteran who received a letter wrote back to the group to thank them for the project. "Thank you for your note and thinking about us veterans past and present," Charles Atkins wrote in a letter featuring the logo of the ship he served on from 1971 to 1974. "Please keep those that are serving in harm's way in your thoughts and your prayers."
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