FLEMING ISLAND – Real success for Conner Cunnigham’s Eagle Scout project won’t be judged until long after the senioat Fleming Island High is gone.

His “Glorify Old Glory: A Flag Retirement Program” is designed to last as long as the United States flies the red, white and blue. Its purpose is to honor the colors with a respectful ceremony that includes an emcee, chaplain, flag handler and fire tender.

“This is something I hope I can baby it to carry on,” Cunnigham said. “I would like to be able to come back and see it still going on. Hopefully, I can. If I baby it until I leave and it just drops, I don’t think I would have succeeded with my Eagle Scout project. It should outlive me.”

Cunningham worked with Bartram Trail Troop Scoutmaster Tim Hollinger on creating a program to retire worn U.S. flags as part of Cunningham’s Eagle Scout project. The project already has been submitted, but he still faces several other levels of scrutiny before earning scouting’s highest ranking.

“I have to meet with a district board of review and they will review my project application and talk how I’ve gone through Eagle Scout and Boy Scout to this point,” he said.

Cunningham started a website http://rebrand.ly/GlorifyOldGlory that not only outlines the program, but offers assistance to anyone who wants to properly dispose of a retired flag. The Vietnam Veterans Association asked Cunningham to retire a flag just days after the website was created. He also said others have visited the site.

The project also included a flyer and booklet that outlined each step. Information on the flyer includes:

“We developed a simple, respectful script for anyone to follow. It can be performed as a short ceremony, or it can be part of a larger event. We designed it as a “How-To” or a “We’ll Do,” meaning we have a script to follow or your Troop can perform the ceremony for you.

“Flag retirements are popular on Flag Day, but they can be done any day. Please review our website and program. We hope you will consider it not just as a respectful flag retirement program, but it could be an open to the public event to raise awareness of your group, cause, or location.”

Clay County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Cella, himself an Eagle Scout, has joined Cunningham’s project.

The retirement program includes the Pledge of Allegiance and opening remarks by the emcee, followed by a prayer from the chaplain. After that, the flag is lowered into a fire pit to be properly disposed. The program doesn’t conclude until “no traces of the flag remain.” To make it easier, Cunningham created a step-by-step script.

“Our troop has a lot of retired flags, the community has a lot more flags they need to retire as well,” Cunningham said. “This led to the idea of a simple program that grew into my project to include the website, e-book and video.”

Cunningham said to learn how to properly retire a flag, or to request the Scouts, visit his website – now and long after he’s gone.