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100 years of honor, loyalty

My Thoughts

Dr. Bill Atwood

(Updated: Thursday, February 04, 2010, 12:00 AM)

It is an organization that has helped turn boys into men and those men into leaders. It traces its roots back to a brave leader in the British Army who held out for seven months against the enemy during the Boer War and even though he and his troops were outnumbered they saved the African town of Mafeking.

Robert Stevenson Smyth Baden-Powell went home to his native England a military war hero and used his new found fame to promote his idea of an organization for boys. He rewrote his military text "Aids for Scouting" which helped his military men and in the rewrite made the book appropriate for young boys.

He shared his ideas with Ernest Seaton and Daniel Beard and between all the exchanges "Scouting for Boys" was developed in England. It was a big hit with the English lads.

In 1909 an American, William Boyce, was passing through London and became concerned about crossing the street in the midst of the dense fog. A young man came up and offered assistance which Boyce accepted. The boy refused a tip and when questioned about not taking a tip told Boyce that a Scout did not accept tips for doing his daily "Good Turn" intrigued Boyce.

Boyce asked for more information and asked to be taken to meet this leader Baden-Powell. When they arrived at Baden-Powell's office that Scout disappeared into the fog and his name was never discovered. He is known as the "Unknown Scout."

Boyce was impressed with what he had learned and was instrumental in getting the Boy Scouts established in the United States. Congress officially chartered the Boy Scouts of America on Feb. 8, 1910. It was the first youth organization ever to get such a charter from the Federal Government.

During the past century many a boy has walked into his first troop meeting to join in on the fun and the adventures. Scouting isn't just a program designed to watch boys while the parents head off to do other things.

Scouting teaches many things. The new Scout learns the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Those are not only the rules to follow while with the troop or their patrol. The concepts in the Oath and Law are how a Scout is expected to live his life.

Words such as honor, loyalty, helpful, reverent, duty and a host of others are taught as standards to live by. Phrases such as 'do a good turn daily' and 'be prepared' become a part of the Scout's character. A Scout learns lessons about life and himself as he advances his rank from Tenderfoot to Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and then Eagle.

Only one in a hundred boys who even joins Scouting ever becomes an Eagle so it is a select bunch to say the least. And it must be noted that once a boy becomes an Eagle he is always an Eagle. My Scoutmaster, Richard Francis Campbell of Troop 139, North Hollywood, stated to all Eagles in his troop that we were marked men and as such owed a lifetime of service to others. No expiration date -- a lifetime of service.

Scouting has helped many a boy through his teen years and has helped establish leadership talents and abilities in those boys. When a boy realizes that he can handle an emergency he is ready to tackle the tougher parts of life. When a boy is handed the leadership of his patrol he learns the need to plan events and camp outs. He learns to delegate and to hold others and himself accountable.

When a boy begins to earn merit badges he learns about different facets of life. Many a man is now in his chosen career thanks to being introduced to that field because of a merit badge.

Boy Scouting has served this nation well. Troops have conducted service projects and Scouts have learned to behave and follow the rules. Scouts have learned to volunteer and Scouts have learned to be leaders. The campaign ad of years ago that stated, 'Scouting Builds Men' still rings true to this day.

To all the adults who have volunteered over the past 100 years to make Boy Scouting the great organization that it is -- Thanks.