When he noticed his Boy Scout Troop was accepting many American flags from people who didn’t have a way to properly retire them, Wylie High School senior Riley Boles sprung into action.

“I wanted to make a convenient drop-off location for people needing to retire flags,” Boles said.

Boles worked with Wylie ISD to become the benefactor for his U.S. Flag Retirement Drop Box. As part of his Eagle project, Boles has overseen the project from purchasing and designing the drop box to installation.

Located on the west side of the Wylie ISD Education Service Center at 951 S. Ballard, anyone needing to retire a U.S. flag is welcome to place it in the drop box to be properly retired by Boy Scout Troop 78.

Boles will check the box every few weekends for discarded flags. He plans to attend Collin College for the next two school years, so he will still be available to check the box for flags. 

“Once I leave this area, the responsibility will go to my troop for them to service it,” Boles said.

Assistant Scoutmaster Josh Gibbs thinks the box will be beneficial for the community for years to come.

“We get asked all the time what to do with retired flags,” Gibbs said. “This is a good place to direct them to.”

Boles’ name will soon be added to Troop 78’s trailer. The troop lists the names of all of their scouts who have earned the Eagle Award to the back of their trailer. After completing his Eagle Award, Boles will also get his name engraved in the stone within the Circle 10 Council at the Eagle Scout Plaza Scouting Center in Dallas.  

“I have been honored to have added each Eagle's name to the trailer after their amazing accomplishments,” Michelle Boles, Riley’s mom, said. “Many are Wylie ISD alumni.”

Riley has been in the scouting program since the third grade when he was a Cub Scout.

“Earning the Eagle Award is the final peak of scouting,” Riley said. “It's the highest rank advancement you can receive.”

The drop box was paid for with troop sales of American flag subscriptions. Those who purchase a subscription from Troop 78 receive a 3’ x 5’ American flag in their yard, displayed by the troop on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Patriots Day and Veterans Day. 

If you’d like to purchase a flag subscription, visit www.troop78wylie.org/node/5514 or email t78flagfundraiser@gmail.com.