American Legion Hayes Velhage Post 96 is visiting with scout troops throughout West Hartford.

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Submitted

The Hayes Velhage American Legion Post 96 has started their fall Americanism nights where they visit Cub Scout Packs and Scouting America Troops (formerly called Boy Scouts) to teach about flags and America.

Helping youth in the community is one pillar that the volunteer American Legion organization focuses on. The veterans meet with these units to teach about flag etiquette, flag folding, how to raise a flag and how to conduct a flag ceremony, and teach about the history of the flag and country.

This year they also taught how to retire a tattered or faded flag by meeting the children and families at West Hartford’s flag retirement pit by Town Hall. The flag retirement pit was an Eagle Scout project built by Jacob Mooney of Troop 146 in 2023.

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Some of the American Legion members met with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary on Oct. 28. Two older Boy Scouts, Santi Galvez and Christian Espinoza, both eighth graders and from Troop 146, also volunteered their time to help with the event.

The next event will be Nov. 12 with Pack 145 from Bugbee Elementary.

If you’re interested in joining Cub Scouts, it is open to both girls and boys from Kindergarten to fifth grade. More information on joining is found by using this link. Once on the site, just enter a zip code to see all the West Hartford options:

Information about finding a traditional girls-only Girl Scout troop in West Hartford can be found here.

To contact the American Legion to join or to arrange an Americanism class, please contact: [email protected].

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Americanism night with Pack 161 from Duffy Elementary School. Courtesy photo

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.