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Need ideas for a Cub Scout meeting with veterans in November.
9/23/18 | Me

Posted on 09/23/2018 3:40:21 PM PDT by GOP_Party_Animal

I'm the Cubmaster for a group of about 50 1st through 5th grade Cub Scouts. Close to Veteran's Day, I have set up a meeting at the local air museum where mostly military equipment and memorabilia are featured.

I'd like the boys to understand what a veteran is and why we offer them respect. I know a couple vets (Vietnam and OIF, OEF campaigns) and I'd like them to talk to my scouts, but I have no idea what to ask them to talk about. If you are a vet, what would you like young boys to know about your service?

BTW, I am aware of the BSA's recent inadequacies. I'm not looking for comments on its decay.


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: scouts; veterans
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

An explanation of battlefield injuries followed by a bit of basic field first aid training would go a long way towards making kids realize what our soldiers face while giving them useful, potentially live-saving skills.


21 posted on 09/23/2018 4:42:43 PM PDT by Vigilant1 (The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.)
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

I think I can help. I used to sometimes take a couple of WW2 vets to schools. The were mend who saw combat in The Battle of The Bulge, as well as other battles in the ETO. What I would suggest to the veterans is just to be themselves. Talk about where they grew up, their school days, how they came to be in the service, what branch, that kind of thing. I would strongly recommend however that prior to introducing veterans to any group of young people, preferably without the veterans present is to tell these young people that given what these men did, serving their country and particularly Army and Marine Corps vets that is was required of them to have to kill people. I say this because this is what most of these kids, especially boys seem to be most curious about. And from personal experience I have seen that it is a very difficult thing for veterans to talk about. It’s one of, if not the main reason why men who have been through that horror refuse to talk about their war time service.

I would tell these young people this. I told them “Yes. Because of the nature of what these men were involved in they did kill people. Sometimes as close as I am to you now and sometimes from a great distance, killing dozens of people or more at a time. I’d tell them “It was not something they wanted to do, they certainly did not enjoy doing it and would very much have wished they didn’t have to have done it. But they were proud and honored to serve their country and to do what they had to to protect and defend their buddies and our country. I hope this helps.


22 posted on 09/23/2018 5:04:23 PM PDT by jmacusa (Made it Ma, top of the world!'')
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

We recently did something similar with our trail life USA troop.

Several of our leaders are vets, but none had combat. I invited a Vietnam helicopter pilot friend.

I learned that evening he received a Distinguished Flying Cross for a rescue operation under fire and later flew a U.S. President.

We all learned something that night.


23 posted on 09/23/2018 5:07:57 PM PDT by cyclotic ( WeÂ’re the first ones taxed, the last ones considered and the first ones punished)
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

If available, have them read a biographic item on this person. Have them write a letter or come ready for questions.


24 posted on 09/23/2018 5:09:54 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: laplata

A proper flag retirement ceremony with local American Legion


25 posted on 09/23/2018 5:13:02 PM PDT by smartymarty (How a mountain girl can love.)
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To: smartymarty

That’s good.


26 posted on 09/23/2018 5:23:12 PM PDT by laplata (Leftists/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

I did a Q&A for a Vet’s Day at my kid’s grade school. Went well, the kids wanted to know about food and living conditions and equipment more than any gungy stories.

At the end, the teacher said she’d heard that Marines will sing the Marines’ Hymn any time, anywhere. The kids looked at me expectantly. I, of course, belted it out as best I could, solo.

One day, I’ll get her for that.


27 posted on 09/23/2018 5:28:41 PM PDT by M1911A1 (MAGA must include jail for the Swamp's leading lawbreakers)
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

Use the event to announce that the pack will be moving out of the BSA and into Trail Life.


28 posted on 09/23/2018 5:43:35 PM PDT by John Leland 1789
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

Have you talked with someone at the air museum? I know the one here in AZ has a lot of veterans that LOVE to talk. /g

Seriously though, that would be a good place to start.


29 posted on 09/23/2018 6:34:03 PM PDT by Do_Tar (To my NSA handler: Just kidding. Well, not this time.)
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To: PAR35

and then the scouts can ask the veterans what they think about the army going gay...lol


30 posted on 09/23/2018 8:33:01 PM PDT by willyd (I for one welcome our NSA overlords)
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