This week marks the 100th anniversary of the United States Boys Scouts; straight from the handbook I share with you the tiny but extremely important particles that become the bricks firmly placed in one of the strongest foundations in American history.
Boy Scout Oath or Promise:
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
The Boy Scout Oath has three promises: Duty to God and country, duty to other people and duty to self.
DUTY TO GOD AND COUNTRY: Your family and religious leaders teach you to know and serve God. By following these teachings, you do your duty to God.
DUTY TO OTHER PEOPLE: Many people need help. A cheery smile and a helping hand make life easier for others; by doing a Good Turn daily and helping when you're needed, you prove yourself as a Scout and do your part to make this a better world.
DUTY TO SELF: Keeping yourself physically strong means taking care of your body. Eat the right foods and build your strength. Staying mentally awake means learn all you can, be curious, and ask questions; being morally straight means to live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and actions, and to be a person of strong character.
Boy Scout Law…A Scout is:
Trustworthy,
Loyal,
Helpful,
Friendly,
Courteous,
Kind,
Obedient,
Cheerful,
Thrifty,
Brave,
Clean,
and Reverent.
Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared!
Boy Scout Slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily!
The Outdoor Code: As an American, I will do my best to -
Be clean in my outdoor manners
Be careful with fire
Be considerate in the outdoors, and
Be conservation minded.
I’ve met very few men who didn’t give the Scouts a try; each leaving for self guided reasons. My brother Teddy and I loved our weekly meetings only to be tossed around from group to group because locating a long lasting Scout Master that lived nearby in itty bitty teeny weenie south Billings, Montana was extremely difficult…we learned early how Mom’s lead very busy and extremely tight scheduled lives, in my part of the village we never had male leadership.
I often believe we would’ve had more success in the FFA (Future Farmer’s of America) but the stepfather constantly refused to purchase us a cow. We had the chickens, pigeons, rabbits, cousins who had horses and sheep in Wyoming and a sister who was always in a bad mood…there had to be a group designed for our chunk of the punk kid network.
Truth is…such a brotherhood wasn’t lived out until the book of life read: Chapter 40. Getting into martial arts and abiding by the hardcore rules written by a people of great strength and leadership over 2,000 years ago is enough to make any kid or adult sit up straight at the dinner table. But kicking, punching, blocking and tossing aren’t what we’re putting focus on today…
The United States Boys Scouts have turned 100!
The highest honor is Eagle Scout…getting there is a journey, achieving it is an honor, living the life of the highest rank takes courage, inner strength and a willingness to take what you’ve been taught and share it with those outside your circle.
In my book, anyone who earns the rightful position of being saluted and looked upon as being an Eagle is a famous individual; A wall honoring every child turned adult needs to be built on the soils of this nations greatest corner with each name deeply dug into the surface of granite signaling to a passerby that no matter how high the mountain or heavy the challenge…tomorrow can’t and won’t happen without leadership, skill, loyalty and determination fed by the mind, body and soul of strength and the willingness to share wisdom.
There’s no such thing as a former Boy Scout…you are and shall be called upon in a future you didn’t design but because someone took the time to teach you in the pages of growing up…how you handle your present is based on the experiences delivered by Scout Master’s, Father’s and Mother’s who opened that large wooden door and said, “Walk through it…dare yourself to be prepared.”
Today I salute every Scout! As difficult as it was to be a kid wearing a thick blue or brown shirt complete with a bright yellow bandanna style necktie and badges that honored animals and their stories to school, the end result is pride and I’ve yet to meet the Scout who isn’t blessed with the seeds that make up the unseen path he or she would locate if all that is…suddenly changed.
Happy 100 and more!!!! Be a leader and make today and tomorrow 100% better because your leadership is part of it.
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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