Former Navy SEAL leads Boy Scout troop

MOULTRIE — Whether in the jungles of Vietnam or on the streets of Moultrie, Marcus Flannigan knows the importance of the Boy Scouts of America.

Flannigan, 55, said he was born in Albany and lived there until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1971 after graduating from Albany High School. He actually was notified he had been drafted the Saturday before his Monday graduation, so he chose to join the Navy.

While in the Navy, Flannigan said he became a Navy SEAL and was sent to fight in Vietnam in 1972. He remained in Vietnam until the end of the war in 1975 and returned to Albany, working in shipping and receiving and other jobs.

As a boy, Flannigan said he joined the Cub Scouts in 1966 and remained in Scouts until 1971. He became a Life Scout, earning his Eagle Scout, and he gives credit to the Scouts during his service in Vietnam.

“I can truthfully say some of my Scout training as a boy helped get me through Vietnam because of the skills I learned in Scouting,” Flannigan said.

From 1997 to 1999, Flannigan said he had seven major surgeries, including five back surgeries, a stomach surgery and removal of a cyst on his right wrist. All of those surgeries caused his disability, but it has not slowed him down at all.

“I’m not going to sit around and let my disability control me,” Flannigan said. “I want to stay involved.”

Flannigan said he got married to the former Teresa Folds in October 1990, and his son, Matthew, was born in October 1992. His family moved to Moultrie in 2000, and it was a recruiting visit to his son’s school that got him back into the Scouts.

Matthew joined the Cub Scouts during a recruitment at Okapilco Elementary School in 2001, Flannigan said. Matthew joined without his father’s urging, and he has remained with the Scouts, earning his Arrow of Light in 2005 and his Eagle Scout in February 2007. His Eagle Scout project was organizing and holding a flag retirement ceremony.

When Matthew joined the Cub Scouts, Flannigan said he became the Cub Master of Pack 410. When Matthew became a Boy Scout in August 2005, Flannigan led the Boy Scout Troop 410 while Teresa became Cub Master of Pack 410.

Since becoming a Scout Master, Flannigan said he has received several awards and been a part of many Scout activities. Among his awards and activities are being on staff and being awarded the Wood Badge, receiving the District Award of Merit, being a merit badge counselor for 26 badges, receiving a Cub Master’s award, working at Scout camps like Wallwood, Camp Osborn and Webelos Woods, serving as a member of the Order of the Arrow, playing drums and singing with the drum and dance team, serving as a shooting sports director and serving as a Trailblazer director at Camp Osborn in 2007.

In addition to the Boy Scouts, Flannigan said he has also become involved in the Colquitt County 50th Regiment Auxiliary Band since Matthew joined last year. He and Teresa are band boosters while Matthew will be on the drumline this season. The couple will also serve as field crew chairmen this year.

Flannigan said he encourages any parents of band members to be a part of the band boosters. He also encourages anyone with a son between 11 and 18 years of age to contact him and get them involved in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.