Batavia Boy Scout Troops Honor Veterans at Annual Weekend Vigil

Boy Scouts from Batavia and St. Charles spent a cold November weekend camping outside to pay tribute to our country's veterans.

The event, held November 5 to 7 and known as the VFW Vigil, marked the return of a decades-long annual tradition. The Scouts camped out at Batavia’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1197 to pay tribute to our country’s veterans and conduct a flag retirement ceremony, while also enjoying a weekend of fellowship and fun. The Vigil, an almost-30-year-old tradition, went on hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 70 scouts and 30 adult leaders attended the event, representing Batavia Troops 6, 12, 21 and 43, St. Charles Troop 1, and several Batavia Cub Scout Packs. The vigil began Friday evening and ran through Sunday morning, with Scouts and parents keeping a fire burning all weekend long in honor of veterans.

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, a flag retirement ceremony was held. The Scouts respectfully cut up and burned flags that have been collected at the VFW over the course of the previous year.