Being the mother of the self-proclaimed ambassador of dirt has some very definite perks. Last Saturday, while my friends were watching the Orioles lose to the Kansas City Royals, and getting a sunburn on the beaches at Ocean City, my husband and I were embedded with tens of thousands of men and boys on a military base in Northern Virginia.
While this might not sound like a good thing, it was the experience of a lifetime.
A month ago our oldest son asked his father and me if we would like to help him celebrate the Boy Scouts 100th anniversary at the National Jamboree. Mike is an Eagle Scout, and had agreed to give an inspirational talk.
“It’s going to be a madhouse,” he warned me. “Think you’re up for it?”
I reminded him that I’m the mother of three sons. I’ve dealt with broken bones and stitches, parent/teacher conferences, puberty and fender-benders — not to mention the laundry from three boys returning from a week-long camping trip. “I’m certainly up for spending some time with Boy Scouts and listening to my son give a little speech,” I assured him.
We’re not strangers to Scouting. Our sons were all members of Boy Scout Troop 16 in Baltimore County. So, naturally, John and I served as committee members and merit badge counselors. I have fond memories of my years as a Cub Scout den leader — really!
From the moment we drove through the gates at Fort AP Hill last Saturday with our son, I felt an overwhelming sense of family and nostalgia. Driving past countless tents and groups of boys in olive green brought back memories of visits to Broad Creek Scout Camp and Scouting Expos — only on a much larger scale. 50,000 boys and leaders had arrived from across the U.S. and 26 other countries for the ten-day Jamboree. Statistics shared by our guides, Tammy and John, were mind-boggling: 3,000 of the 79,000 acres that are Fort AP Hill Army Base were being used by the Boy Scouts — a city of 18,000 tents and 3600 patrol kitchens. Including visitors, 100,000 spectators would be in the arena for the birthday celebration that evening.
I had the privilege of roaming among Scouts who were anxious to share their Jamboree experiences — opportunities that boys outside of Scouting can only dream of: archery, rock climbing, rappelling, orienteering, kayaking, canoeing, marksmanship, hunter safety.… Fourteen-year-old Mason’s eyes sparkled as he told me about the BMX dirt bikes he had ridden on the motocross track. His enthusiasm was reminiscent of another Scout on parents night at Broad Creek many years ago. Our young son, Scott, normally reserved, ran to greet us with the news that he had just completed his mile swim — a skill that would be useful during college when he worked as a lifeguard.
Fifteen-year-old Andrew, from Texas, had taken a disability-awareness class, and his friend, Greg, had indulged his
passion for patch-trading with Scouts from across the country. He proudly took a handful from his pocket, and I admired them, grateful that I wouldn’t be sewing them on his uniform. Many of the boys spoke of a fascination with the military presence and exhibits at the base.
David, from the mid-west, worked on a scuba diving merit badge, and his buddy, Phil, rose at 5:00 AM to participate in a 5K walk/run. The word of the day was ‘awesome.’
During the afternoon, there was a steady stream of Scouts and dignitaries through our trailer to meet and have their pictures taken with the ‘dirtiest guy on TV.’ Among them were a group of Order of the Arrow Scouts who worked on clean-up detail and wore the dirt to prove it, a group from the Baltimore Area Council, and an accomplished Scout who had earned 121 merit badges.
Entering the packed arena at dusk was like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. Speechless and misty-eyed, I looked out at the sea of boys and young men who represent the future of our country — as far as I could see to the left, and to the right — a family of 100,000 celebrating a century of service and achievement. Some of the troops had hiked three miles from their campsites to the arena that afternoon.
The stage looked as long as a football field, and the three giant movie screens, like skyscrapers. The dazzling show was kicked off by a jet flyover, a live bald eagle on stage, and a parachutist. Following a message from the president, the alternative rock band, Switchfoot, entertained while there were web casts of Scouts across the country joining the celebration — including Times Square.
At 8:30 when a Caterpillar front-end-loader drove into the arena, all eyes followed the spotlight on the bucket. The evening speaker had arrived. The crowd’s reaction was deafening as the host of ‘Dirty Jobs’ was deposited on the stage. Mike spoke of his parents forcing him into the Boy Scouts when he was a shy, awkward kid, and said that without Scouting, he would be nowhere today. He went on to talk about getting his Eagle in 1979 and reconciling his present life with the eleventh Boy Scout Law: A Scout is clean.
When each Scout held a burning candle lit from a single campfire in front of the stage, the arena glowed with a common purpose — to help each and every boy realize his full potential. The head of Scouting, Robert Mazzuca, called the Jamboree a ‘mountaintop experience’ for the boys. For my husband and me, it was an overwhelming ray of hope for the future.
At the end of the evening, with fireworks exploding overhead and lighting up the surrounding woods, we walked through the night back to the trailer. Holding my hand securely and calling me, Mom, was Air Force Brig. General Robert Nolan ll, Commander Joint Task Force — National Scout Jamboree. As I said, there are some definite perks to being the mother of ‘the ambassador of dirt.’
18 Comments
As is said in one version of the Eagle Scout Court of Honor, “No one will ever know the unnumbered acts of self-sacrifice and helpfullness from the mother of this Eagle Scout which have led us to this night.”
Thank you, and once again, “Hi Pegg, Hi John!!!!!!”
(I think that was one of the larges “Hi Mom” moments in all of TV, even if it wasn’t really for TV)
I just want to say belated congratulations on your 3 Eagle Scouts. I know how proud you must be. They couldn’t have done it without you & Dad behind them. My son just had his banquet last week and I have to be honest in saying, I wasn’t sure it was going to happen. When you see Mike or talk to him, please tell him that Lynette Touchtone, from Dial America, says “Hi”. That’s my mom and she used to work with him. She has always thought very highly of him. Thank you for sharing him with the world. You are a very special lady. Hats off to you.
Mrs. Rowe,
I watch the Jamboree from Cleveland Museum of Natural History at our Shining Light program. I have been involved with several of our Centennial Celebrations events as a staff member but I must admit that Mike’s speech was one of the highlights of the year. I believe that his presentation should be seen by every Scout and Scouter to show truely what the Scouting program can do in ones life.
Your love and caring shows through his commitment to others. On the National Scouting Monument in Washington, DC, the female figure represtes the love and commitment to family that a Scout learns from his mother. Thank you for giving your son these values and thank him for sharing them with the world.
The week before the Boy Scout Jamboree, Mike was being wined and dined by the CEO of Ford. But, seeing the look on his mom’s face, I’d say she was much more proud of his appearance before the 100,000 scouts, leaders and visitors that night. It is obvious that Mike has made a huge impact on the way we all view those who work day after day at the dirty jobs he portrays on his show. But the impression he made on the young men sitting in the audience that night is very likely to stay with them for a lifetime.
Wow, well said. My son and wife were fortunate to attend Jamboree. Both claim the highlight was listening to Mike’s keynote address! We’ve shared his message with my son’s troop, and it has brought new life to some of the Scouts who were simply “going through the motions.” Thanks.
THANK YOU!!! Mike’s speech was awesome and inspiring to all of us. I was fortunate to be in the arena and hear it for myself. I like you am the porud mother of an Eagle Scout and wife of a Scoutmaster both on SCUBA staff for the 3rd Jamboree. There was no better person to help celebrate 100 years of scouting than the Ambassador of Dirt. Let’s be honest after every camping trip and summer camp we mother’s know what came home with our boys, Dirt!
Lisa Blomberg – Troop 711 Jupiter FL
Thank you Mrs. Rowe, as the Mother of three boys I hope I too can visit a National Jamboree with my son (or sons). Thank you for your years of service to Scouting!
Peg!
I just found your blog on facebook. What a wonderful experience you and John had! We’d love it if you could find your way further South in VA to come to see us.
Do you think Mike will ever host SNL?
Hope to hear from you.
Jane & Steve
The Rowe family will always be etched in my memory of the 2010 National Jamboree. Mike’s speech has positioned himself as a scouting hero and if the BSA was smart they would make him the spokesman of this great organization.
Thanks for being there.
Mrs. Rowe, I just wanted to say again how much of a pleasure it was meeting you and talking about the different things in scouting and about Mike going to Philmont. It was a memorable thing for me and I hope you enjoyed the show.
It was a great speech. You must be so proud of your son. He’s a inspiration to everyone. Thank you, Mrs. Rowe.
Jennifer
Mrs. Rowe,
Thank you for sharing the impact Scouting has had in your family. In turn, I hope that you understand the profound impact your son is having on the world. I firmly believe that if everyone in the world were as well-grounded and appreciative of everyone and everything around them as Mike is, most of the world’s problems would simply evaporate.
Scouting was a critical part of my adolescence, and now that my sons are Scouts as well, Scouting means even more to me. I only hope that they have the morals and character Mike shows us all so often.
As a father of three scouts, I thank you for all you did for Mike to get him here for the boys. Without wonderful mothers supporting our programs, many boys would never have the chances that ours have. Thanks Again, Ron W Zufall, DDS Eagle Scout ’80.
Thank you Mrs. Rowe for sharing some of the behind the scences that took place that night, and your fortunate opportunity to meet some of these incredible boys and hear some of their stories. Just watching it on the internet gave me goosebumbs and a lump in my throat, I can hardly imagine the overwhelming emotion that everyone must have felt being there. Mike, I’m sure you are going to be responsible for mom’s all over the country, sewing on a new Merit badge with the word “dirt” in it. You truly are an inspiration to many.
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective of the evening Mrs. Rowe. I remember my years of camping and badge earning with girl scouts. I know that’s why I helped lead my son’s troop through cub scouts, and eventually became Pack Committee Chairperson. I always get those jobs full of paperwork! The evening sounds wonderful and certainly fitting for the mother of 3 scouts. Thanks again,
Kathy
I was at the 100th anniversary BSA Jamboree and as the mother of an Eagle Scout and the mother of a Star Scout who was in attendance I have to say that your son and Eagle Scout was the best person they could have chosen to speak and inspire the scouts! Mike did an awesome job of inspiring the scouts and everyone was thrilled to hear him speak. The boys were talking about it as a highlight of the jamboree for the rest of the week! Thanks for raising such a great guy and thanks to Mike for being such a great ambassador for scouting (as well as dirt!)!
Mrs. Rowe – thank you for this memory. My husband and I were not fortunate enough to be able to attend but our son came back glowing with his story of the experience. Your story just adds to our “memories from afar”. We are thankful that our son had this experience and we thank your son, Mike, for his important message to all the scouts.
Thank you for taking the time to share with us.
Respectfully,
Margaret and Timothy K.
Thank you Mrs. Peggy Rowe. I was there and I will never forgot how great Mike Rowe and his speech was.
It was the best time I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to earn my Eagle and be like your son.
Thank you Mrs. and Mr. Rowe and you Mike Rowe and all the great scouts of our country. A scout is clean but not afraid to get dirty!