TOWNE LAKE — A teenager who admitted to taking two of the Towne Lake Optimist Club’s flags was forgiven by club members after publicly apologizing at the group’s luncheon Wednesday.

At the club meeting at Eagle Watch Golf Club, the young man stood in front of the group to ask for forgiveness for taking the fundraising flags from Towne Lake Parkway and offered to help the group’s “Avenue of Flags” charity next year.

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Jay Baker, who attended the luncheon, said it was nice to see the teen come forward on his own to take responsibility and ask for forgiveness.

“Every person in the room was moved by his comments,” Baker said. “I wish more conflicts could be resolved this way.”

Accompanied by his mother, the boy told club members and members of the sheriff’s office he gave one of the flags to a friend and was dishonest when questioned by detectives.

Baker identified the boy’s friend as the 16-year-old who was arrested and charged with theft by receiving Saturday after the flag was discovered in the bed of his truck, which was parked at Hobgood Park.

“Charges against that juvenile will be dropped,” Baker said.

Club President Matt Halloran said the young man who spoke to club members explained that he had a “boring day” and never realized the implications taking the flags would have.

“I think these are the lessons this young man will never forget,” Halloran said. “He’s a nice young fellow.”