Eagle Scout Gathers, Retires Over 2,600 Old Flags Amid Pandemic

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — A local Eagle Scout candidate gathered over 2,000 American flags during the coronavirus pandemic for his project. Pierce Stewart, a member of Troop 772 in Laguna Niguel, wanted to "do something that would rally the community and generate a feeling of patriotism," especially while the coronavirus kept people apart.

Stewart, a sophomore at Aliso Niguel High School, began reaching out to neighbors for his flag collection and retirement project. Using flyers, he sent out word of his intention to collect and retire old or damaged flags across his neighborhood. The outreach touched the community in an outpouring of flags and goodwill to the rising Eagle Scout.

"Typically, Eagle projects are done with the Scout taking charge from beginning to end," mother Brett Brofman told Patch. Dennis Powell of the American Legion Laguna Woods Village — Post 257 signed off on the project.

Stewart began his project on Memorial Day, aiming to collect about 200 flags. They followed coronavirus social distancing procedures, picking up flags off porches or having them delivered contact-free.

Using social media, including the Patch Orange County Neighbor Pages, Stewart shared his project intentions. Due to the broad reach of the internet, many flags were mailed from other states, along with notes and messages about where they came from.

They used a great deal of hand-sanitizer, his mother Brofman told Patch.

"Within three days, the community handed in upwards of 500 flags," Stewart said. Orange County Fire Authority donated a box of old flags, and Dana Point Hardware also acted as a collection site in what became a community effort.

The flag collection goal is to properly retire flags that are worn, torn and otherwise unflyable. Typically, the flags are folded and then ceremonially burned.

"Each flag is special and has a story," he said. "They come in all sizes."

Some have flown over a home or business, and others over fire stations, local city halls or other government buildings.

"One flag flew over the California State Capitol in Sacramento," he said. Stewart's family determined to make his flag collection part of their summer travels.

"We called it our 2020 Flag Tour Adventure," he said. The family collected flags as they journeyed across Southern California through the Yosemite area, northern California, and Nevada.

"We picked up flags at the Reno Fire Department," he says.

His favorite flag was the one flown over the Scout Jamboree in 1989, he says.

By the end of his collection, he gathered over 2,600 flags to retire. However, the problem of burning that many flags was daunting.

Stewart enlisted the Mortuary of Laguna Hills' support to cremate the flags, using their chapel room to conduct the flag retirement ceremony.

"We videotaped and livestreamed the event so others could safely watch from home," he said. He adapted the ceremony to fit the coronavirus and Boy Scouts of America guidelines while still honoring the flags.

"Due to the quantity, the flags were cremated in shifts, over a few months," he said.

The final ceremony included a display of 400 folded flags, a Scout-led posting of the colors, and a memorial speech followed by a live bagpipe sendoff, in what he called a "proud day of honor and respect."

Stewart earned his Eagle Scout rank during coronavirus, in late November 2020.