The Garden Grove Parks and Recreation Department will once again orchestrate acts of patriotism in all 10 Garden Grove parks this summer, with the help of teams of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts who will raise and lower the American flag at the parks.
The flag raising program began back in 2010, when the Garden Grove Park Patrol was debuted, under the direction of Jeremy Broadwater. The flag raising is meant to honor the country's heritage.
The Garden Grove Parks and Recreation Department will once again orchestrate acts of patriotism in all 10 Garden Grove parks this summer, with the help of teams of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts who will raise and lower the American flag at the parks.
The flag raising program began back in 2010, when the Garden Grove Park Patrol was debuted, under the direction of Jeremy Broadwater. The flag raising is meant to honor the country's heritage.
"On Independence Day in 2010, for the first time in more than 25 years, the local Boy and Girl Scouts raised the American flag in four city parks," said Broadwater.
The Garden Grove Park Patrol is seeking Boy and Girl Scout troops, veteran groups and charitable organizations interested in serving the community to volunteer on a color guard unit for the flag patrol.
Last year, during a ceremony honoring the Scouts for their unwavering service, Nicholas, 12, from Boy Scout Troop 147, said it was an honor to raise the flags at the parks.
"I get to do my duty to God and show respect to the United States," he said.
Alex, 8, with Pack 270, said he flag raising involved unfolding and folding flags, raising the flag and lowering the flag and securing the halyard (the rope that raises and lowers the flag).
Other Scouts said that scouting builds strong young people and that it's more than just hoisting the flag; it's knowing how to fold and unfold the flag; it's a way of respecting America.
A minimum of 10 hours are required to be performed by the groups of Scouts.
Broadwater, formerly with the Community Services Department Garden Grove Park Patrol, and now serving as an Orange County firefighter, said the job of the Park Patrol is to protect people who visit the city's parks.
"Safety is very important," said Broadwater. "I was working at Disneyland in their electrical department when we saw the terrorists attack our country. I want to share how fantastic our kids really are in paying respect to our country," he said.
This year marks the third year of the flag raising program.
Mayor Bruce Broadwater said he is grateful for his Scout training as a boy.
"I used my Boy Scout training while in the service overseas," he said. "And, I think the flag program is great; it's great involvement for the kids, for the Boy and Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, going to the parks for the flag ceremonies during the summer."
Councilman Kris Beard shared that he too was a Scout and that all of his three sons are Eagle Scouts.
"Those are life-long memories," Beard said.
Councilman Christopher Phan, who got married last November, said that he wants his future children to become Scouts.
Phan was 8 years old when he came to America as an immigrant from Vietnam.
"How you honor the flag affects me deeply as an immigrant. The flag is a symbol of what we believe in," he said.
Beard said he traces his ancestry back to 1856 when his ancestors came from England to America.
"Things were not easy. There wasn't any electricity and no paved roads," he said. "My great-great grandfather defended the Union in the U.S. Army. Those people are who I am and I appreciate the freedom they helped to establish and I'm proud to be their ancestor."
"I love the soil, the sky, the ocean and the flag that represents America and so when the Scouts raise the flag, that means a lot to me," Jeremy Broadwater said.
