Scouting the path to Eagle

Here's another Alpha and Omega to share, from my youth to my adult life in the Boy Scouts of America. I considered posting my actual Eagle Scout award, but found this Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War recognition kind of neat, and the dates line up with my Eagle Court of Honor. If you do the math, you'll note I made Eagle rank at age 13 years and 6 months. I had 31 merit badges, the 21 required and ten extra for two palms. I would become the second Eagle Scout in the family, following my father's footsteps and encouragement. My son, J.B., would also attain Eagle rank, although not quite so quickly. I suspect he enjoyed it more as a boy.

The other photo shows me making a presentation at an Explorers Award Banquet, as the District Director in West St. Louis County. A lot of years would pass between my 18th birthday and the day my son entered the scouting program in the mid-1980's, but once he was in, I came back to become involved as an adult. I served as an Asst. Scoutmaster, Chairman of the Troop Committee, and later involvement as an Exploring District Commissioner. In 2000, I was awarded the District Award of Merit, the same night I was part of the program to recognize young men and young women in the Exploring program.

My son did a good job with the program as well, winning his Cub Scout Pinewood Derby, graduating from WEBELOS into Boy Scouts, and earning his Eagle badge after holding most positions within his troop. His more leisurely pace allowed me to join him for five or six years of summer camp, and I can say I enjoyed the program more as an adult than as an overachieving boy. I attended Wood Badge training, and joined the Order of the Arrow. I still have my uniform, which actually was my father's since I clearly had outgrown my boyhood duds. I can't bear to discard it, even as I face moving across the country and eliminating many items before I go.

Scouting is a great program, and hopefully someday one of my children will present me with a grandchild who can become a fourth generation Eagle scout. If not, I'll settle for the Girl Scout's "Gold Award", the highest level in Girl Scouting if instead I'm honored with a grand-daughter. The best advice from Scouting........"Be Prepared".

P.S. - As an adult, I hiked the Lincoln Trail, all 21 miles. Boy did my feet hurt.