Scouts put hands together to show military appreciation

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The handprint of a young boy is not very big. However, when it is placed together with the prints of 83 other boys who want to honor those fighting for their freedom, it becomes larger than life.

Members of South Carolina's midlands Cub Scout dens got together during their week-long summer camp to create an American flag made solely from handprints to be presented to the men and women serving overseas.

"The idea came from a couple of the mothers and den leaders themselves," said Senior Master Sgt. Edwin Felix, first sergeant of Air Force Reserve Command's 315th Maintenance Squadron and Pack 99 leader. "They wanted to do something for troops overseas. I supported what they wanted to do."

The flag, which consists of handprints from 6- to 12-year-old boys, was presented to Sergeant Felix during a Cub Scout ceremony in hopes he could get it to the troops.

"I have a strong belief Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts operate under the same core values as the Air Force does - integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do," said Sergeant Felix, who got involved with the scouts because of his son.

"One of the things we stress in Cub Scouts is citizenship," he said. "It's good to see they took it to heart. They couldn't wait to put their handprints on there."

Sergeant Felix is proud of what the scouts did and how they are aware that service and freedom go hand-in-hand.

"The war of terrorism is to preserve a way of life and the way of life of children," he said. "They (the Cub Scouts) understand the service we are doing." (AFRC News Service)