Instead of sleeping or watching television like many teenagers on summer vacation do in the mornings, 15-year-old Kyle Addis decided to help a local government office commemorate its new flagpole.

Tuesday, the Lawrence County office of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services received a new 40-feet tall aluminum flagpole to replace one that was bent during February's ice storms. Boy Scout Troop 106 from Central Christian Church arrived Wednesday morning to raise the new pole's flag.

"It took forever to get it replaced," ODJFS Director Buddy Martin said. "Some of our employees have kids in the scouts, and then there's a Fourth of July tie. So, we decided to make a little ceremony out of it."

"They did an excellent job. A janitor or I could have hung it up, but we decided to let the scouts do it."

ODJFS office manager Allen Caldwell said one reason why the flagpole's replacement was a long time coming was that he was only able to find three companies in the Tri-State area that put up flagpoles. The flagpole came from T&L Signs in Huntington, W.Va.

Assistant Scoutmaster Shawn Osborne said the boys' scoutmaster, Dave Lucas, always has the boys participate in any flag raising ceremony in which they can be involved. He also said he had no problems getting the boys out of bed for the morning ceremony.

"They're always willing to do their civic duties," Osborne said.

"The scouts mean a lot to me," Caldwell said. "Last year, they became the only Boy Scout Troop in the U.S. to raise the flag at Arlington National Cemetery. I appreciate the Boy Scouts taking the time to do an honorable ceremony."

Kyle Addis participated in the ceremony shortly after his Eagle Scout ceremony.

"I like to come and raise the flag for the community," he said.

Donna Addis, Kyle's grandmother and assistant scoutmaster for the troop was also pleased with the job the boys did and seeing the new flagpole.

"Seeing something new going up is always nice," she said.