The Mattapoisett Boy Scout Troop 53 laid 516 American flags to rest on Friday in a fiery ceremony at Dunseith Gardens.

Scout master Dennis McLaughlin said the boys usually retire flags by fire at their camp, but they decided to do it this year in a more public location, inviting those who attended the Veterans Day gathering to join.

“[We want] to show these guys a little bit of respect for the flag and the people who fought for this flag and patriotism,” McLaughlin said. “We're not just out camping all the time.”

The Scouts collected many of the torn and worn flags from three flag boxes created as part of Drew Robert's Eagle Scout project last year.

While Robert is now in college, the boxes, located at Town Hall, the police station and library, have been a great way for people to responsibly dispose of old flags.

The Scouts retired them in a respectful ceremony in which the carefully folded flags were put into a large fire.

The event was particularly poignant for Kathleen DeMello, who talked up to the fire with two Scouts as they put her father's flag into the flames.

DeMello's father, Francis Robert Sylvia, was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran who was shot down over Germany. He survived but became a prisoner of war.

Sylvia has since passed away, but DeMello inherited his WWII-era flag. She said it was in bad shape and wasn't able to framed due to its condition.

“That flag has done its duty. It's been a symbol of liberty,” said DeMello, who was honored to participate in the retirement.

Boy Scout Davis Mathieu also expressed his respect for the flag ceremony.

“It's remembering the beginning, celebrating the end and starting anew.”