Former Cub Scouts rescue Old Glory

BY

Justin Gerlek, Conner Felt and Ethan Clark noticed the U.S. flag hanging upside down and almost dragging on the ground at Gault Field after the September 9 storm. They retrieved the flag and folded it in the proper way they learned as Cub Scouts.

When a large tree blew over at Gault Field on September 9, it drew the attention of many passersby. But the keen eyes of three former Cub Scouts saw something else. They noticed the American flag also was fallen. It had been partially torn from its rope and was dragging upside down on the ground.

Ethan Clark, Conner Felt and Justin Gerlek, 9th graders at Temescal Canyon High School, were being driven home from school by Ethan’s dad, Ryan Clark, when they saw the tree, then the flag, and knew that had to do something about it.

After pausing for a photo with the fallen tree, they retrieved the flag from the pole and proceeded to fold it in the proper way they learned as members of Cub Scout Pack 346. With Ryan’s help, they then drove to the POA office and turned it in at Member Services.

Ryan says the three young men and several others from Pack 346 continue to be close friends who look out for each other and are outstanding students. He says, ironically, only a few days earlier he had been recalling a memory of their Cub Scouts days when they held a flag-burning ceremony to respectfully dispose of retired American flags.

Ryan says Ethan, Conner and Justin are on the freshman football team at TCHS and are 4.0 students.

Another former member of Cub Scout Pack 346, Jasen Williams, just achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Jasen is a home-schooled senior and currently writing a teen column for The Friday Flyer.

Cub Scout Pack 346 is still active and last month earned the National Summertime Activity Award from Boy Scouts of America. It serves boys in 1st through 5th grades in Canyon Lake, Canyon Hills and Tuscany Hills. For more information call 951-363-3346 or send an email to socalpack346@gmail.com.