Letters
High adventure is a good motivator
Thank you for the article “A Rugged Adventure” in the May-June issue about the Western Los Angeles County Council’s high adventure programs at Camp Emerald Bay. It is really great that Scouting offers such cool high adventure activities for older Scouts. They are a great way to keep boys active in Scouting and a good motivator for younger boys as well.
I’ve always enjoyed high adventure outings. There is something about doing physically strenuous activities out in the wilderness that is really exciting.
Sam Chiba
Venturer, Crew 1312
San Jose, Calif.
A bumper sticker for Eagles
In the May-June issue, a reader noted that when her family travels, they place “I’m Proud of My Eagle Scouts” bumper stickers on their luggage. As an Eagle Scout, I think it would be good if the BSA Supply Group also sold stickers that state “I’m Proud to BE an Eagle Scout.”
As author Alvin Townley points out in Legacy of Honor (Thomas Dunne Books, December 2006), his recent book about Eagle Scouts, after achieving Scouting’s highest rank, one remains an Eagle Scout for life. I believe that if such stickers were available, we would see a lot of them on car bumpers.
Richard Kreps
Committee Chairman, Troop 630
North Olmstead, Ohio
The BSA Supply Group has just released an “I’m Proud to Be an Eagle Scout” sticker (BSA No. 34247, $1.99). The four-inch-round emblem is available from official Scouting retailers or online at www.scoutstuff.org.
Flags and bugles
One of my pet peeves is seeing tattered American flags flying over buildings and businesses. I routinely contact the people responsible and suggest they replace the flags or take them down.
I am also concerned to learn that some national cemeteries have difficulty finding buglers to play taps during memorial services and funerals of veterans.
Could a program be established for Scout troops to routinely contact businesses and institutions to request that they replace or remove a tattered flag?
Likewise, another program could encourage Scouts who can play the bugle to volunteer their service at national cemeteries.
Sharon E. Corell
Ballwin, Mo.
Joe Glasscock, Boy Scout Division director of program development, says plans for the next (12th) edition of the Boy Scout Handbook include a section in which Scouts will be advised to contact an organization when they see a flag that needs replacing.
Regarding the second issue, the BSA has affiliated with Bugles Across America and encourages Scout buglers to volunteer their services at military funerals. The organization’s Web site is www.buglesacrossamerica.org.
Veterans appreciate Scouts
For the past six years, Troops 2, 11, 33 and Cub Scout Packs 8 and 40 from Licking County, Newark, Ohio, have helped to host a four-day camp for military veterans.
The last three have been held at Camp Falling Rock of the Simon Kenton Council, Columbus, Ohio. Veterans enjoy the companionship and appreciate the hard work by the Scouts and their leaders, who cook all the meals during the event and clean up the facilities afterward.
We are also proud of the Scouts for honoring our fallen heroes. At the 2006 camp, they conducted a flag-retirement ceremony at which the name of a fallen hero was placed on each worn flag to be burned.
In addition to the Scout units and council, other partners in these events include Newark Elks Lodge 391, Columbus American Legion Post 532, Newark American Legion Post 85, the City of Newark, and the Ohio Veterans Association.
Edward L. McDonald
Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, retired
Director, The Ohio Veterans Association
Newark, Ohio
October 2007 Table of Contents
Copyright © 2007 by the Boy Scouts of America. All rights thereunder reserved; anything appearing in Scouting magazine or on its Web site may not be reprinted either wholly or in part without written permission. Because of freedom given authors, opinions may not reflect official concurrence.