T-L Photos/GAGE VOTA Bridgeport Boy Scout Troop 109 members do volunteer work to receive their community service badge by cleaning the veterans banners hung by the Martins Ferry American Legion Post 38.

MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry American Legion Post 38 and Bridgeport Boy Scout Troop 109 came together to help one another on Monday.

This past winter, the Bridgeport Boy Scouts troop’s trailer got broken into. Some of the items stolen were tables, totes, tarps and tents. The Martins Ferry American Legion stepped up to donate to the troop to help replace the stolen items.

In addition to receiving a donation, the troop took on the project of cleaning the banners that the legion post places around Martins Ferry to honor military veterans. The cleaning of the banners was to go toward the troop members’ community service badges.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to give back to the community,” Scoutmaster Pete Ehni said.

Ehni added that he is always looking for ways to teach his troop about the value of community service. He also said their next major project is to place flags at Holly Memorial Gardens cemetery in Colerain. The initiative is set for the Thursday before Memorial Day.

“We try to find every veteran’s tombstone and place a flag on it,” Ehni said.

When speaking on how the American Legion Post 38 started displaying the banners, legion member Joe Klug said it was an initiative he had seen elsewhere.

“I drive a truck, and I see them all over the state of Ohio and said, ‘Why not in Martins Ferry?'”

Klug said there are about 125 banners displayed honoring local veterans.

If you are interested in reaching out to the Boy Scouts Bridgeport Troop 109 to receive volunteer help so they can achieve their community services badges, contact them on Facebook at Bridgeport Troop 109.