CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Zane Mask has been in the Boy Scouts for eight years, earning the title of Eagle Scout. For Memorial Day, he joined others in Granite Falls Troop 263 and Pack 260 to place flags on veterans graves at Woodland Memorial Gardens.
- A Boy Scout troop in Caldwell County put flags on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day
- They also retired around 40 flags
- The troop says it is important to do this to remember the sacrifices that were made
"It's my duty because part of the scout law and scout oath is for us to do our duty to God and our country," Mask said.
Mask wants to be here to pay tributex, but also for another reason. He was recently accepted into the Citadel, a military college in South Carolina. He hopes to eventually go into Space Force.
"They are like mentors to me, I guess I could put it," Mask said.
Scout Master Chuck Heavner says he has been bringing the troops here for years because he feels it's important.
"It's important to teach our troops the importance of remembering, and honoring our fallen heroes and scouts gives us the opportunity," Heavner said."It's important to teach our troops the importance of remembering, and honoring our fallen heroes and scouts gives us the opportunity," Heavner said.
The Boy Scout troop also held a flag retiring ceremony. The color guard first lowering the flag, folding it and retiring it. Veterans and community members were then able to come up and help retire more than 40 flags.
"Generally you just simply toss them in and make sure they burn to ash, and then after the fact, you bury the ash." Connor Wilson said.
This time, however, there was also a silent tribute followed by each person mentioning something they are thankful and tossing the flag into the fire.