Posted on 08/01/2012 6:24:23 AM PDT by giant sable
One hundred years ago on Aug. 1, Arthur Eldred, a 17-year-old Boy Scout from Long Island, became the first person to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Eldred, tall, quiet and with a shock of dark hair, had joined scouting largely at the behest of his widowed mother, who hoped it would give some structure to his life. Yet as Eagle Scouts would continue to do throughout the next century, Eldred caught the scouting world by surprise. He was the first of an extraordinary new cohort of young men who were to prove very different from the classic 13-year-old Boy Scout in short pants.
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FReegards!
My son just passed (with flying colors!) his Eagle Board of Review a couple weeks ago. He should have his court of honor in August - just waiting on the paperwork and deconflicting schedules.
Yes, papa’s bursting buttons.
Congrats to your son!
And congrats to the Boy Scouts!
I was stunned a bit two years ago, at the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts. I scanned the internet, and could find NOT ONE major media outlet offering congratulations to the Boy Scouts on that anniversary.
If I recall correctly, Obama was invited to the anniversary jamboree, as the president is the honorary chairman of the Boy Scouts. But he declined that invitation, and went to be on “The View” and yak with Whoopi and Joy and Babs and the girls instead.
The only thing I ever see or hear in the media about the Scouts, is outrage that they ban homosexual leaders. And the left wants to tell us what we are supposed to be outraged about.
Recently the left has told us we should be outraged that the owners of a fast food place support traditional marriage. How did we get to this point in this country.
I earned my Eagle some fifty years ago. My son is a 46 year old Eagle (and Scoutmaster), with a 15 year old Eagle candidate (now Life Scout). They both embarked to Philmont last Friday.
Dad’s gotta brag every now and then ;^)
If you want to visit the Boy Scout “birthplace” where would one go? I know the Girl Scout birthplace is Juliette Lowe’s house in Savannah, GA. Is there a museum or something for Boy Scouts? I’d like to visit it.
I earned my Eagle Scout award in 1961 and was the youngest Eagle in the council in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the time, when I was in the 7th grade. My mom was my Cub Scout den leader in Spain and my dad was an assistant Scoutmaster in my troops in Spain and Wyoming (I was an Air Force brat). I was my son’s Cub Scout den leader in Arizona when he joined and was the pack Cubmaster and Webelos den leader for him in South Carolina too. He continued on to Boys Scouts where I served as an assistant scoutmaster for his troop. He became an Eagle Scout in 1995 in Tempe, Arizona. A family tradition. Once and Eagle, always an Eagle!
I was gone this weekend, but heard that our Scout Master dropped by and said that my son’s application had been approved and he is now an Eagle Scout. Couldn’t be prouder. I only made it to Star and my father only made it to First Class.
The history of Scouting in the U.S. dates to 1909, with the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America. It's hard to pinpoint a birthplace because Scouting, through Baden Powell's book, Scouting for Boys, was a worldwide movement. We had Scout Troops in the U.S. before we had the BSA, both imported from Scotland and homegrown.
The BSA Museum was previously in Kentucky but is now in Irving, Texas.
The Boy Scouts were founded in 1907 by Lord Robert Baden-Powell when he held the first Scouting encampment for boys on Brownsea Island in England. It has since spread worldwide.
I do not know if there is an actual “birthplace” of the Boy Scout movement like Juliette Lowe’s house for the Girl Scouts in Georgia. BTW, I have a picture of my wife’s Girl Scout troop in front of that house from a trip they took from South Carolina when my wife was a Girl Scout in the early 60’s.
I proudly wear the red white and blue square knot as a soon to be 50 year veteran scout.
I have one of the best job in scouting. I conduct the Eagle ceremony for our troop. We will have an Eagle court of honor week after next with two new Eagles.
In our troop, those who receive the Eagle rank tend to be 16 or older. They are truly experienced scouts and understand the challenge and burden of leadership. The leadership ability of a seasoned Eagle scout is not found in almost any other endeavor for one so young. The training of the various skills is broad in scope and detailed in focus. The combination of mastered skills and leadership can not be beat.
My oldest son received his Eagle badge on Saturday, the 28th.
The BSA national headquarters is in Irving, TX, suburb of Dallas. There is a very good BSA museum at the HQ building.
Been there - done that - Congrats!
Scout Ping
sigh.. only made it as far as Star scout few badges short of Life knew a few guys who made it to Eagle. Eagle courts were always special
Not sure there is such a place in the US. One suggestion is BSA HQ in Irvington TX. Haven’t been there, but believe they have something in the way of a museum there. Yep:
Found this on the birth of the BSA - good summary article:
http://www.classb.com/blog/2011/02/09/william-boyce-a-good-turn-and-the-birth-of-the-bsa/
Thanks. We’ll make it out to TX one of these years, and check it out.
Congratulations! I’ve served on nearly 100 Eagle Courts of Honor and mentored about 50 Eagles. Every one is unforgettable. They give you hope for the next generation. Be sure to tell your son that this is where his Eagle starts, not ends. It’s a lifetime learning experience.
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