- April 26, 2024
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Graham Johnston is no stranger to flag retirement ceremonies. He performed his first as Cub Scout.
And as a Boy Scout of Troop 403, he was often given old flags by his teachers, friends and family, to retire because they didn't know what to do with them. So when it was time for Johnston, a freshman at Seabreeze High School, to pick his Eagle Scout service project, he thought back to those flags.
"I felt that Ormond Beach needed a place where you can drop off flags, legally and properly," Johnston said. "I felt like it was going to help a lot of people."
Johnston's project to install a U.S. flag retirement drop box was approved last August. He initially planned to have his project completed by December, but when he made the basketball team at school, he decided to push it back until the end of the season.
In February, Johnston installed, not just one drop box, but two in town, thanks to the $3,320 he was able to fundraise through community donations, including help from the Ormond Rotary. The first box was installed at Troop 403's meeting place, Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church, located at 1035 W. Granada Blvd., and the American Legion Post 267 at 156 New Britain Ave.
"They've been a personal supporter with the Eagle project, with myself throughout scouting, and also just scouting throughout Ormond Beach," Johnston said of the American Legion Post 267. "I really gave it as a gift back to them."
His father, Brian Johnston, said that his son has always loved being a Scout. Graham Johnston has been a Scout for nine years.
"Scouting has really, as a byproduct, been a great help to him growing into a leader and putting things in place in his life, and follow Scout oath and law," Brian Johnston said. "He's a very honorable young man and I think a lot of that has to do with his interaction with scouting."
The drop boxes were made by America Security Cabinets. Graham Johnston customized their design.
His favorite part about being a Scout is the lessons he's learned over the years.
"It's probably the best thing that life has done for me," Graham Johnston said.
Now that he's an Eagle Scout, he said his next goals are to receive his Cambridge AICE diploma at Seabreeze and to stay active with his troop.
