Courtesy Photo A group of local Boy Scouts prepare to drop a folded American Flag into a fire pit during an American Flag retirement ceremony while at summer camp last year. Tonight, local scouts will have a retirement ceremony to celebrate Flag Day at Duck Park beginning at 6:30 p.m.

ALPENA — Over the years, Alpena’s Cub Scout Pack #3092 and Boy Scout Pack #92 have learned the history, significance, and importance of respecting the American Flag.

This afternoon, in observance of Flag Day, the kids will conduct a flag retirement ceremony at Duck Park beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The public is invited to participate in the event and bring flags that need to be properly disposed of. Those who plan to bring flags should arrive at 6 p.m. to have them properly folded before the ceremony.

Brian Ulch, who has been involved in scouting for more than 30 years, said this is the first year the scouts will conduct the flag-burning ceremony on their own. He said it made sense to invite the public so they could pay tribute to the retired flags and support the local scouts, but also learn more about flag retirement and scouting in Northeast Michigan.

Ulch said the scouts have already collected dozens of flags that need retiring.

He said if someone wants to drop their flag into the fire themselves, they will be allowed to do so.

After the ceremony, the scouts will gather the ashes and dispose of them properly.

“All the flags will be folded in a triangle so none of the red and white is showing and you can only see the blue,” Ulch said. “All the time, we make sure they never touch the ground.”

After the burning, Ulch said, the metal ringlets that are used to fasten the flag to a pole of other structures will be collected and handed out to those who want them.

The local scout troops typically hold two or three flag retirement ceremony events a year, but Ulch said the one on Flag Day holds a little more significance.

He said the event tonight is also a way to let people know that scouting is still alive and well in the Alpena area. There are about 30 Cub Scouts and another 30 Boy Scouts in the local troops. Ulch said there has been a decrease in participation over the last decade or so, as kids are finding other avenues of recreation, many of which are enjoyed indoors.

“I believe it is because kids don’t want to do things outside,” Ulch said. “They have their cellphones, computers, TVs, video games, but parents need to encourage them to get outside and learn.”

Ulch said the scouts still operate as they always have and educate kids about the importance of teamwork and accomplishing individual achievements. He said Merit badges are awarded for a great many things, many of which are from skills they can utilize when they become adults.

“There are merit badges for things like welding, cooking, camping, and for things for public service,” he said. “Almost everything we do prepares the kids for adulthood and what they want to do in life.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.