LAPLACE — Eighth graders Devon Rucker, Luke Ringe and Dominic Boesen have made community service at their school and their community a priority.

The Boy Scout Troop 312 members attend St. Charles Catholic High School and got involved in Scouting through the Cub Scouts. They joined for different reasons, whether it was the influence of friends or family or for fun.

Around SCC, the boys continue to be “super Comets,” said Courtney Millet.

“In the back of our school, we have a prayer garden and a courtyard,” Millet said. “All three boys helped with fixing the benches. Now, our students go out there for the second part of lunch and it makes it a nicer place for our students.”

Millet is the director of instruction and institutional advancement at the school.

“These three young men participate in activities that build character and citizenship, and they are sure to have very bright futures,” Millet said. “They arrive early to school each day and raise the flag each morning. In the afternoons, they take down the American flag in front of the school.”

The boys have been raising and lowering the American flag since last school year when they attended St. Joan of Arc School.

“It’s a sign of respect to the flag,” Dominic said. “You don’t want it to go through bad weather. If it rains in the morning, we don’t put it up, because it’s disrespectful. Then in the evenings, we take it down so nothing happens to it during the night.”

Devon agreed with what Dominic said about respecting the flag.

“We have one other Boy Scout here at SCC other then the three of us,” Devon said. “To be honest, I think only him, the teachers and our principal really understand how respectful it is for us to put the flag up and take it down. It’s a really big symbol for our country, and leaving it up overnight or letting it get rained on wouldn’t feel right.”

Along with raising and lowering the flag, the boys also participate at football games.

“They march on the field for every home football game and present the colors for the singing of the National Anthem,” Millet said.

Principal Andrew Cupit is proud of the three boys.

“I was a Boy Scout,” Cupit said. “My father was one of the founders of Troop 312 that these three young men belong to. It’s very special having the boys helping with the flag. It warms the heart. They are outstanding boys.”

Outside of helping with the flag, the boys perform community service throughout the area.

“We helped build a fence for a ranch that helps disabled people learn to walk again with therapeutic horse riding,” Luke said.

The boys are currently working on their Citizenship in the Community Merit badge and looking for a charitable organization that will allow them to do eight hours of service.

Once they graduate high school, Luke plans to join the Navy or become a computer programmer.

Dominic wants to work on drones for either the Air Force or Army, and Devon would like to join the Air Force or become an engineer.

The boys encourage young males age 12 to 18 to join their troop. They meet at 7 p.m. every Tuesday. For more information, call Thomas Boesen at 504-881-4670.

— By Raquel Derganz Baker