By Elizabeth Barhydt
On Friday, July 11, family, mentors, firefighters, and veterans gathered outside the New Canaan Fire Department to celebrate the completion of the second phase of James Bakal’s Eagle Scout project: the installation of a new red, white, and blue American Flag Retirement Box.
This box, now standing outside the firehouse doors on Main Street, gives New Canaan residents a year-round location to respectfully dispose of worn or tattered U.S. flags. Clearly stenciled with “U.S. FLAGS ONLY,” the sturdy box features a wide white slot for deposit. The red top lifts only for Scouts collecting the retired flags.
“It’ll be a spot for the town,” James says. “You can drop your flag in, and then we’ll take it to camp next year and retire the flags.”
Troop 70 will collect flags about once a month from the box, storing them until the troop’s annual summer camp, where they will hold a formal retirement ceremony.
“Cutting all 13 stripes and laying each one in the fire with a prayer to a loved one or a veteran,” James explains of the ceremony. “It’s really important to do it the right way.”
A Community Need Answered
For years, residents have asked the fire department where to bring worn flags. Emergency Management Director Russ Kimes pointed out that there was no permanent answer. That need—and the desire to honor the flag properly—drove this second phase of James’s project.
At the ribbon cutting, the “ribbon” was actually caution tape—a nod to the firehouse setting.
“That was the ribbon cutting ceremony,” James says with a smile. “They thought the caution tape would fit well with the fire department theme.”
In one photo from the event, VFW Commander Mike McGlinn can be seen bringing a folded American flag to place in the new box, marking its first official donation.
Two-Part Project, One Mission
This new box marks the final step in an Eagle Scout project nearly a year in the making. The first phase, completed last November for Veterans Day 2024, involved James handcrafting 27 wooden flag display cases for the New Canaan VFW.
“When a veteran passes, the family will get a flag at the funeral,” James explains. “The box that I made is supposed to be the box they use. It’s just a gift from the VFW to the family.”
Commander McGlinn praised James’s craftsmanship. “James built the box as part of his Eagle Scout project. The New Canaan VFW helped sponsor the project. The Town has needed a place for retired American Flags and thanks to James, we finally have a place.”
Built Locally, Learned by Doing
James sourced the materials for the retirement box and the display cases locally from Northeast Lumber in New Canaan.
“Nobody actually taught me directly,” he says of learning to build. “It was just a hobby that started in Cub Scouts from projects we would do, and then just a ton of YouTube videos. And mistakes too—mistakes were definitely a big part of the learning experience.”
Mike McGlinn has served as a mentor throughout the project. “He’s been a great mentor for me,” James says. “Just an amazing, amazing person.”
McGlinn notes the VFW has wanted a flag collection box for years but couldn’t get one in place. James took on the idea and made it real.
A Scout’s Future and Advice for Others
As a rising senior at New Canaan High School, James is in the final steps of completing the paperwork and review needed to officially become an Eagle Scout. He estimates he’s spent about nine months and 130 hours of work on both parts of the project.
“I’ve heard many times that if colleges get two applicants, the same qualifications, and one has Eagle Scout and one doesn’t, they’d go with the Eagle Scout a hundred times out of a hundred,” he says. It shows determination and character.
He encourages younger kids to try Scouts: “Shoot an email to PAC 70, the Cub Scouts, and say you’re interested. They’ll gladly have you at a meeting, and then you can get your first taste of what it’s like.”
With the new box ready at the firehouse, New Canaan now has a lasting way to honor the flag.
