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PHOTOS: Girl Scouts Destroy Flags

The two groups teamed up for a valuable history lesson.

 
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Erin Bellofatto
Photos (12)

Photos

Malden Girls Scouts Troop 71139 assisted The American Legion, Post 69 of Malden and Mr Kevin Jarvis of the Veterans Affairs office of Malden in a flag retirement ceremony Saturday afternoon. 

The scouts collected the flags before Memorial Day, when many troops across the city voluteered to remove weather tattered Flags and replace them with new flags.

The girls also learned about famous patriots buried in Malden cemeteries, including James Upham, who penned the "Pledge of Allegiance."  

Related Topics: Back To School, Flags, and Girl Scouts

Dana Roberts

7:36 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Girl Scouts Destroy Flags...head line is a little misleading

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Bobby James

8:56 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Right? I was all "WHAT?" and then read it.

Maybe they should have a citywide "Respect your flag" course so that the fine residents of this city will learn how to appropriately display the China made American flags they display outside their homes 24/365.

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Chris Caesar

9:25 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Why is it misleading? That's the language used in the flag code:

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

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david mokal

10:54 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

That's what your supposed to do with old tattered flags. Proper way to Dispose of Them. There never to be thrown out in the Trash. They must be burned.

Dana Roberts

9:37 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

it just sounded malicious that's all

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Chris Caesar

9:38 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

LOL oh I see. "Malden Girl Scouts RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE"

Erin

10:33 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

"Flag Retirement Ceremony held in Malden" -- would have been my preference for a headline.

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/flagretirement.htm

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robert wilson

10:39 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

I always knew the Girl Scouts were radicals.

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Chris Caesar

11:01 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

I'm kind of amused people are reading that into the headline. Does anyone believe marauding girl scouts are going around burning American flags?

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Diana

8:53 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012

What can I say, they denied my application to be a troop leader.

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Mike G.

11:18 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012

They make a hell of Thin Mint. They can burn all the flags they want to.

david mokal

11:02 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Sounds like the BLOG MOB is out after the Girl Scouts too! GEESH !

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Dana Roberts

11:07 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

I know the little girl in the picture...her mother is quite the marauding type, Chris <beep beep beep>

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Chris Caesar

11:11 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

hahaha. Not sure what that means but I'll take your word for it :)

robert wilson

11:13 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Some people here should lighten up a little.

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Kathy G

11:15 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Girl Scouts "retire flags" maybe that would help with all the raging... However I love the "rage against machine" lol

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Erin

11:18 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

NO, NO, NO....stop the madness. LOL.

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Chris Caesar

11:20 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Just wait until they notice the mayor is smiling as the flags burn in the last picture. LOL, I kid, I kid.

david mokal

11:23 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Geeeze I miss those Girl Scout Cookies. The mint ones was the best and the choclate chips awesome. I was allways good for a dozen boxes easy. Its been ages since we used to see them goin door to door but in this city I dont blame them. So many perves living here.

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Diana

8:55 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012

They don't encourage them to go door to door anymore, but during cookie season they generally sell them at the Stop & Shop on Charles Street, and at Malden Station. They've also been pretty inescapable at every office I've ever worked at.

Dana Roberts

11:25 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Better headline: Uniformed paramilitary group burn flags while veterans look on

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Martha Bezzat

11:28 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

I agree the title is misleading, a lot of people don't know about this procedure.

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M

11:32 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

I thought it was funny... catchy, made me want to read the story. Great headline!

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robert wilson

11:43 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

I've brought my old flags to a Boy Scout Flag retirement, a nice ceremony.

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Jake

11:56 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

Is that kid from Medford in a Girl Scout uniform on the lam spreading lawlessness across the land.

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Gene Pinkham

12:19 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012

You really should bring your old flags to the American Legion.

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Michael G

12:27 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012

So Gene, do they just collect the old flags on Flag Day? I always thought they destroyed them on flag day also. In revere they use to put them all in a box and burn them all at once.

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Erin

1:39 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012

Chris-
If you listen to Ron & Fez on Sirius/XM, they are now having a Rage against the Machine discussion. Ironic? :)

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Chris Caesar

1:46 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012

Haha! They must've heard they're coming back with the younger generation ;)

Gene Pinkham

4:41 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012

Larry Clark will take them any time.

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Heidi Sutherland

10:43 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

As mother to the 2 older girls in the photo and the Girl Scout Coordinator for Malden Girl Scouts I too was distressed at the headline. In my opinion the appropriate caption should have been Girl Scouts help to retire flags. Malden Girl Scouts collect the old flags at the Forestdale Cemetary and place new ones (approx 400 of them) at the graves of all the Civil War Veterans just before Memorial Day and have been doing that for decades. The girls are all taught that the flags are to be handled respectfully (even the retiring ones), that they are not to touch the ground.

I too have had a good laugh at the comments here....

Cookie season is right around the corner (December is going to be here before you know it). We appreciate the support of all those that are buying cookies!!

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Jennifer

4:01 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Heidi as the wife of a 27 year Veteran; thank you, and thank the Girl Scouts for their dedicated service.

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david mokal

7:52 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

HEIDI The more I look at it It does sound creepy your right.

david mokal

7:57 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

HEIDI Thank you for the info. I hope the Patch posts it so we all will know. Im dying for those thin mints and the chocolate chips. Lost But Not Forgotten we found them again..The scenior center might be a good place to set up shop too at least its safe there and the old timers like me will buy them you can bet on that. TY again

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david mokal

8:01 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

HEIDI when I seen the flag burning and it was just as bad as "GirlScouts Go Wild"

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