‘He’s Done a Great Job’: Local Eagle Scout Creates U.S. Flag ‘Drop Box’ at Firehouse

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L-R: VFW Post 653 Commander Mike McGlinn, Eagle Scout James Bakal, First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Fire Chief Albe Bassett with the new flag drop box. Contributed

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A New Canaan High School class of 2026 student recently completed a project to honor and respect the U.S. flag.

The drop box is located outside the firehouse on Main Street. Credit: Valentina Baldini

James Bakal for his Eagle Scout project created a box that residents can use to ensure that the flags are disposed of properly.

“It means that the town has a place where the flags can go, showing the local residents that they can do the proper thing in the world by retiring them,” Bakal said. 

The tricolor drop-off box is located in front of New Canaan Fire Department headquarters on Main Street.

“This project means so much to me,” said Bakal, whose grandfather served in World War II and who has two cousins in the military who have been deployed to Afghanistan in the past. “It means that the town has a place where the flags can go, and 10,15 years down the line, there will be a place in New Canaan for it to still happen.”

It’s a project that Vietnam War veteran Mike McGlinn, commander of VFW Post 653 in New Canaan, has been trying to get in town for “several years,” he said. 

“I went to the Post Office twice to try and get an old mailbox and paint it, but that didn’t work,” McGlinn said. “Online, it runs for about $2,000, which is too much money.”

Fire Chief Albe Bassett said the fire service “has many valued traditions and customs for our firefighters, buildings, and fire apparatus throughout their service.”

“It is only fitting and an honor to be part of the process of properly retiring our nation’s colors, the American Flag,” Bassett said.

Creating the box took around 20 hours and required meticulous work in construction and finishing, Bakal said.

According to McGlinn, it’s U.S. government policy “to treat the flag properly at all times, including when it’s retired.”

“A flag is considered retired when it’s faded, ripped, dirty or otherwise damaged,” McGlinn said.

People can drop off their U.S. flags in the box, and then Boy Scouts will take it to camp the following year to dispose of them, Bakal said.

McGlinn said the box is of high quality.

“Bakal is very handy,” he said. “He’s like a carpenter and he’s a really talented kid.”

McGlinn added: “He met with me several times to talk about the flag box. We’ve been trying to get something like this accomplished for years.”

Bakal did “a fantastic job,” McGlinn said. 

“He had the wood and the paint, and it was his idea,” he said. “We showed him what one might look like, and he did a better job than what was in the pictures. He’s done a great job.” 

 

7 thoughts on “‘He’s Done a Great Job’: Local Eagle Scout Creates U.S. Flag ‘Drop Box’ at Firehouse

  1. Congrats James!! What a beautiful job you did and what a valuable addition to New Canaan! Thank you for all your hard work on this!

  2. Congratulations James!! This is amazing! An eagle scout project is something that is an incredible achievement and requires so much work and dedication. Well done! New Canaan thanks you for your patriotism and hard work. Wishing you much success in your future endeavors and thank you again!

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