Letters
U.S.S. Hornet welcomes Scout visitors
To the list of three World War II ships in the November-December 2004 News Briefs, I would like to add another historical ship with outstanding special overnight programs for Scout groups: the aircraft carrier Hornet, located near San Francisco in Alameda, Calif. In addition to its much-decorated war record, "The Grey Ghost" also served as the recovery ship for NASA's Apollo 11 and 12 moon missions.
More information is available from Pier 3, Alameda Point, Alameda, CA 94501; (510) 521-8448, ext. 232; www.uss-hornet.org.
Francine Herzer
Marketing Manager
U.S.S. Hornet Museum
Alameda, Calif.
Disappearing neckerchief slides
I'm looking for a solution to a problem our Scouts have with their neckerchiefs. Their slides won't stay in position, especially when the boys are active. Metal slides, in particular, work their way down and eventually fall off.
Pinching the back of the slide to tighten the tongs against the neckerchief hasn't solved the problem.
Chuck Jakab
Hattiesburg, Miss.
Editor's note: Selected solutions to this problem submitted by readers are in the May-June 2005 issue.
A show of appreciation
As chairman of our council's event, Scouting Exp03, I had the opportunity to speak at the closing ceremony to all the Scouts and Scouters who contributed to the event's success.
Toward the end of the ceremony, I asked that all military veterans and those currently active in the military join me onstage. More than 50 came forward.
As the audience of Scouts and Scouters applauded and gave the Scout salute, I turned to see the faces of the veterans and caught a glint of tears on a few. Those men and women were truly moved by the recognition they received, and it was an honor to share the stage with them.
Afterward, several veterans said they wanted to thank all the Scouts for the recognition. One even noted that it was the first time since stepping off a bus returning from duty in Vietnam that he had been recognized for serving his country.
This show of gratitude is what I call a "Scouting paycheck."
Kent M. Marks
Scoutmaster, Troop 56
Painesville, Ohio
Two special Eagle Scouts
At a ceremony last December at the First United Methodist Church in Bonita Springs, Fla., two special Scouts received their Eagle Scout Awards.
Joey Story and John Samson have Down syndrome. Both have been in the same Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop. They worked on their Eagle projects, building picnic tables and benches for a new butterfly garden for Bonita Springs Elementary School, with the help of the school's principal, David Short. The community donated the materials, and the Scouts of Troop 109 assisted in the construction.
Both Scouts earned their required merit badges before age 18 in their climb to Eagle Scout. Joey earned 28, and John, 29. They also showed leadership in the troop, where they are the only boys with Down syndrome.
The Scoutmaster of many years, Joel Morrison, and his assistant Mark Gress have been primarily responsible for the boys' success by allowing them to be treated as any member of the troop and helping to channel the love and support of both families fruitfully in the long climb to Eagle.
Both Joey and John remain active in the troop and love to camp and help out at meetings. The families and their Scouts are truly an inspiration for what Scouting is meant to be for the youth of our nation.
Jeffrey Smith
Unit Commissioner
Pack 109 and Troop 109
Bonita Springs, Fla.
January - February 2005 Table of Contents
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