Each year, the Philadelphia Flag Day Association organizes and leads this solemn civic event to honor the victims and first responders of September 11. Participants include Philadelphia’s Mayor, Fire Commissioner, Police Commissioner, Prisons Commissioner, U.S. Navy leadership, other city officials, and religious leaders.
Prior to the main program at the Betsy Ross House, approximately 200 police, fire, navy, city, and religious participants gather at Fireman’s Hall Museum. At 9:59 AM, they step off for a short, 12-to-15-minute processional down 2nd Street to Arch Street to the Betsy Ross House, led by the Philadelphia Police & Fire Pipes and Drums Corps.
This year, the Philadelphia Flag Day Association has reached out to the Cradle of Liberty Council to broaden community participation and engage the next generation of youth leaders. They believe partnering with Scouting presents a meaningful opportunity for Scouts – Scouts will march alongside civic and first responder leadership, gain a tangible connection to an important event in American history, and carry out an important civic duty.
How Scouts Can Participate:
- Marching in the Processional: Troops and Scouts are invited to assemble at Fireman’s Hall Museum (147 N 2nd Street) and march in the processional to the Betsy Ross House.
- Flag Line of Honor: We are asking troop leaders to bring American flags on poles so Scouts and their family members can line the sidewalks on both sides of the short processional route. Our goal is to have roughly 100 flags framing the pathway.
- Observing the Ceremony: Following the processional, Scouts can attend the Remembrance Ceremony, which includes the presentation of colors, moments of silence, remarks by city officials, and the traditional tolling of the memorial bell by Fire Commissioner Thompson.
Scouting participants should be in uniform and meet at the Fireman’s Hall Museum at 9:30 AM. If you can participate, please consider sending a quick email to greg.osborn@scouting.org with names and unit numbers so we have any idea of how many Scouts to expect. We can provide school absence letters. Thanks!
