July 12, 2005 > A special flag for Fremont

by Jim Wagoner

Troop 176 of Fremont once again had the honor of participating in Fremont's annual 4th of July parade carrying a very special U.S. flag. The flag has only been in public one other time since its current owner removed it from service. Bob Travis of Fremont, a resident since 1961, was kind enough to lend his flag for the parade celebration. Travis joined the Scouts that Monday morning and looked on as the Scouts and Adult Leaders worked as a team to prepare the flag for carrying through the streets of Mission San Jose.

Travis served in the military for 31 years, which included tours of duty in WW II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War. He started his long career as a British Cadet and spent the majority of his time in the U.S. Army serving on Army Transports. Travis obtained the flag in the late 1940s during a stopover in Guam during an evening off duty at a local bar when he met a few U.S. Naval Officers from two visiting U.S. Aircraft Carriers and mentioned to them that his Transport was in need of a new flag but none were available. The next morning, sailors from one of the aircraft carriers delivered a flag, but he never knew which one.

Troop 176 had approximately 15 Scouts participating in the parade as well as six Assistant Scout Masters and a few Cub Scout siblings.

About Troop 176 - We meet on Monday nights at the Centerville Presbyterian Church on Central Avenue and currently have over 70 registered youth members. Anyone interested in joining can contact Gary Louie, Scoutmaster for Troop 176 at (510) 745-0516.