Posted on 12/30/2005 12:13:13 PM PST by Doc Savage
I apologize for a vanity posting. Had a flashback this afternoon and it just made me go back through the years and I was left wondering if anyone else remembered their scouting days so long ago.
For some unknown reason I remembered the very first time I ever had a Cub Scout uniform. We were so poor that just to buy it meant others in the family went without. I can remember like it was yesterday how great it felt and how proud I was to have the complete uniform.
My mom sewed my badges and troop number on, and I had the yellow neckerchief with a special gold slide to hold it. And the dark blue pants. It was such a great feeling to be part of the Cub Scouts! My father was the Scout Master, and we had a great troop.
Still have the same feeling about being a Boy Scout several years later. So, sorry for the vanity, but something just made me want to connect with anybody else who just might remember those times.
My husband still has his metal gold slide.
My son is a Cub Scout(Webelo I) and he has been one since Tigers.
I remember sewing on all those patches for 2 of my sons. Still have them along with the little arrow of light medals, etc. I don't know if they will ever want them, but I kept them.
Still have everything... shirts, neckerchiefs and awards from cub Scouts to Eagle..
I hate to rain on your nostalgia parade, but my first pinewood derby car would've blown the wheels off of yours. It's sittin' right there any time you're ready...#8-)
I took fifteen minutes of our meeting on 12/7 to teach the kids about Pearl Harbor., something they don't get in the schools these days, at 2nd grade or any other.
Sure, and I remember the den and pack meetings. Glitter had just been marketed. Glued matchbooks to wood plaques to give to my Granny for her stove. Akela came to the ceremonies.
My Cub Scout uniform is long since gone, but not the memories. Back then, the Bobcat was a metal pin. I put a piece of paper over it, and made a pencil rubbing of it to mail to my Grandmother. We had cloth badges for Wolf, Bear & Lion.
At that time, the promise included the phrase "Be square, and obey the Law of the Pack.
My uniform is in a trunk in Mom's attic.
It was fun in Alpine.. lots of great places to camp and hike.
That's "Twin Peaks".. we collected geodes and other rocks up there.
I still have 'em.
Our heritage
It was such a wonderful experience for him and our whole family.
Which begs the question:
Does it still fit?
My Boy SCout uniform is in a closet in the cellar next to my Grandfather's WW I uniform. My scout uniform is bigger and I wasn't a big 12 yr old,
Cub Master myself here... Son's a Bear this year... Getting Ready for the Pinewood Derby in January.. and overnight camping weekend at Heritage (parent and son) in a few weeks.
In my very young days I can remember how much my first uniforms cost, while we were not butt poor, I know my parents had to do some sacrificing to get me that first uniform.
Fortunately or unfortunately, we haven't had to make such decisions for my son in terms of sacrificing to get/keep him in, but if I had too.. I'll do without to get him in and keep him in scouting. Its one of the few organizations left where boys are tought how to be men, and men of character.
I have a few single moms in our pack, and I know its tough and a sacrifice for them to get their kids there every time and everything.. but I am glad they do it, and do everything I can to help make sure we help them. I wish we had more of their kids involved... but it is VERY hard to recruit and keep the kids of single parents in... and its sad because they are often the boys who need it the most.
Mine is hanging in my son's closet. He earned more arrow points as a Wolf than I did. (I got a gold and 4 silver. He got five). He's working through the Bear stuff now.
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