Local Scout honors fallen veterans with US flag retirement ceremony

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Grace Kotalik took the tragedy of losing her brother, Jarrett, who passed away last July while he was a specialist in the United States Army, and created from it a way to honor other members of the military who have died while on active duty. A deeply personal project that became a project for her ascension to Eagle Scout was created; to present a series of US flag retirement boxes, and then to oversee and present a flag retirement ceremony. Each box was dedicated to a fallen member of active duty military service.

Grace, a Life Scout of Scouts BSA Troop 1777, created and constructed the boxes, which were delivered to their permanent locations throughout The Woodlands area. During each delivery was a dedication ceremony where the namesake service members’ families were honored. The boxes had been blessed by one of the ministers from Trinity Episcopal Church in The Woodlands. Trinity is the Charter Partner for Grace’s troop, and it is the church home of the Kotalik family.

She oversaw a group of 86 volunteers taken from her troop, other Scouts troops, friends, and family for a total of 1,240 service hours over 42 service event days, including the cumulative flag retirement ceremony.

More than 400 US flags were retired in the ceremony that took place recently at BSA Camp Strake’s Outdoor Amphitheater. Dozens of bereaved family members, spectators, and Scouts came to partake in the ceremony. More than 20 Scouts joined Kotalik in, one by one, retiring US flags properly by placing them in fire rings to be destroyed. Names of fallen heroes were shared as each flag was retired.

Among the attendees were some Gold Star Families – family members who have survived a fallen serviceman or woman – who attended the ceremony to personally hand worn flags to the Scouts for retirement, after stories were shared about their loved ones. Officers from the Spring Creek Area TX-18 Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. were invited to assist with the Comfort Area for ceremony attendees. Members of local VFW and American Legion chapters were also in attendance.

The ceremony, which lasted more than three hours, was emceed by Kotalik and Emilia Fabijanic, the Senior Patrol Leader of another Scout Troop 890. It began with a moving presentation that replicated the opening of the Basic Training Graduation Ceremony at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where Grace’s brother graduated in January of 2020. Buglers from Troops 1777 and 777 played Taps at times during the ceremony.

After the first 50 flags were retired, Grace invited officers from the Greater Houston TX Chapter of the American Gold Star Mother’s Inc. to assist with a Special Pinning Ceremony for Vietnam Veterans. Eleven Vietnam veterans, who served in the various branches, were recognized; Kotalik herself was honored to pin U.S. Navy (Ret.) Captain Royce Engler, Shooting Sports Chairman of Sam Houston Area.

The morning after the ceremony, Kotalik led volunteers to preserve all of the ashes from the fire rings at the Outdoor Amphitheater. They also sifted through the ash, and sorted more than 700 grommets. As she concludes her Eagle project, 500 commemorative items will be made for presentation by Kotalik to Gold Star Families at upcoming regional and national events.

Margie and Jeff Taylor, parents of U.S. Army SPC Joey Lenz, who passed away last year while on active duty, were profoundly moved by the ceremony. “Joey was honored and remembered in a ceremony hosted by our friend, Grace Kotalik, an Eagle Scout candidate, and Gold Star Sister. Joey’s military bio was read with his achievements, and then the flag was given to a Scout who put it into the fire pit. It was good to hear Joey’s name spoken.”

Kim and Carl Ball, the surviving parents of fallen U.S. Air Force TSgt Cody Ball, agreed. “We had the honor of attending the ceremony that was conducted by our sweet friend Grace with the assistance of the scouts from Scout Troops 1777 and 777 and Cub Scout Troop 777. This not only honored our son, but honored her own brother Jarrett and several other Gold Star Families who have lost their sons. Each Gold Star family was presented a flag to be retired in their hero’s name. It means so much to hear your son’s name spoken out loud with such honor. We thank Grace, the Kotalik family, the Scouts, and all who made the day so special.”

Joyce Fontenot, the mother of U.S. Army PFC Trent J. Fontenot, said, “It was an awesome event. I'm so glad that I came. I got to hear Trent’s name spoken out loud, and you know what that means to us. My heart is glad.”

More information about Kotalik and her project, including the location of flag boxes, can be found at www.flagboxesforfallenheroes.com.

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