Boy Scout Troop 196 combined service to country with service to individuals living with intellectual and physical disabilities in a November Eagle Scout project at the Center of Family Love.

Members of Troop 196 partnered recently with the Center of Family Love to retire the previous United States flag and to raise a new flagpole in a place of prominence on the organization’s Okarche campus.

The work was an Eagle Scout project for Michael Johnson, the son of Troop Leader David Johnson.

Also helping with the project were Jayden Atkins, Landon Eaton, Matthew Miller, Elijah Johnson, Andrew Osborn and Brian Miller.

The younger Johnson said he felt a personal motivation to help residents at the Center of Family Love because of his connection with a close family member who lives with disabilities.

“I really wanted to help those who really needed help and I know the Center of Family Love is a very important place,” Johnson said.

“They take care of people who can’t take care of themselves. They treat them with respect and kindness and they provide them a place where they feel at home, sheltered, safe and without fear. It’s a place I would trust my cousin, Elizabeth, to be well-cared for and nourished. Plus, I know at a place like the Center of Family Love, I could visit her and see her any time I like.”

The new location of the flag features a brick landing at the entrance of the Center of Family Love and Troop 196 is selling a limited number of memorial and honorarium engraved bricks that will be fi tted into the landing to raise money for the center’s residents.

“We are so honored to work with this incredible and selfless group of young men,” said Center of Family Love CEO Debbie Espinosa. “It’s truly inspiring to see young people who are finding ways to use their passions to serve others and we are beyond grateful for all that they do for our residents.”

For more information on purchasing bricks, email ckiner@cflinc.org or call 405.263.4658, Ext. 1042.