Pennsylvania unites for America250
Butler County banded together with it’s neighboring communities Saturday morning, May 9, when the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association and Butler Scouting America troops raised three flags at the Butler County Courthouse in a display for America250.
“It was so wonderful to see these young men here today who are putting up the flag and having to fold it and understand how to respect our flag of our country,” Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said.
The activity took place through the “Light to Unite“ initiative aiming to promote unity across the state. At all 67 county courthouses in Pennsylvania, sheriffs, officials and troops will gather around to raise these three traveling American flags.
“I go back and remember the 200th anniversary and I was about their age,” Osche said. “My parents always wanted to make sure that I understood the history of the country.”
Scout Troops 6, 16 and 557 worked together in groups to raise and lower the flags Saturday. Allowing the youth participate in the event promotes the values of leadership that Scouting America is attempting to instill in the children.
“We teach them to be participating citizens, but most people don’t know what that means and it’s being part of the community, as adults,” Raymond Tennent, Scout Executive for Moraine Trails Council, said.
After being raised, the flags were lowered, neatly folded, packed and shipped to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia or Washington D.C. to be displayed in Flag Day celebrations. Bringing the flags together symbolizes the more perfect union that America has fought for since the beginning. Osche said the semiquincentennial is an opportunity for everyone to focus on the strengths of the country.
“I think it’s an opportunity for every individual and family to reflect on where we came from as a country, and where we have the potential to go if we focus on all the good things about the country, the good things about our community,” Osche said.
As America celebrates 250 years and looks ahead to the next 250, Scouting America is confident in molding the generation that will start that journey.
“We hope these young people someday will be the leaders of our towns or any town across America,” Tennent said.
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From left, Boy Scout Troop 16 members Jackson Smith, Jasper Wood, Dylan McDougal, and Austin Barbish lower the American Flag at the Butler County Courthouse on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Scout Executive Ray Tennent speaks to scouts outside of the Butler County Courthouse before the raising of the flags for America on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Boy Scouts work to raise one of three American Flags at the Butler County Courthouse on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The flags will continue on to be raised across every county in Pennsylvania. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jasper Wood, center, of Boy Scout Troop 16 helps fold the American Flag at the Butler County Courthouse on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe watches the raising of the America Flag at the Butler County Courthouse on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe speaks to boy scouts before the raising of the flags for America at the Butler County Courthouse on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Members of Butler Ruritan Boy Scouts Troop 6 lower the American Flag at the Butler County Courthouse on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Members of Boy Scout Troop 16 raise one of three American Flags at the Butler County Courthouse on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The flags will continue on to be raised across every county in Pennsylvania. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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State Representative Marci Mustello speaks to boy scouts before the raising of the flags for America at the Butler County Courthouse on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
