This article is from myplainview.com
By Doug McDonough – Herald Managing Editor
In honor of Boy Scout Week, which runs Feb. 5-11, Xcel Energy is sponsoring a week-long series on the organization, which is celebrating its 102nd anniversary in 2012.
This year marks the centennial anniversary of the Eagle Scout Award, the highest rank a member of the Boy Scouts of America can achieve.
According to South Plains Council Executive Nathan Baie, 36 young men earned the rank of Eagle throughout the council in 2011. While down from the BSA’s centennial year in 2010, Baie said the council normally averages 35-40 new Eagle Scouts each year.
Baie, who earned the Eagle rank in 1986, said, “The mission and values a young man must exhibit while earning the Eagle Scout Award are as much applicable now as they have been throughout the past 100 years. The badge represents so much more than simply a ribbon with a small silver medal and cloth patch. It represents leadership, perseverance, maturity, responsibility and a giant leap toward adulthood.
“To become an Eagle Scout, a young man must fully embrace all 12 points of the Boy Scout Law. And, as they say, ‘Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.’ Once they achieve the top pentacle in Scouting, from then on they will be held to a higher standard and a lot more will be expected of them by their fellow Scouts as well as others.”
Although more than 2 million Scouts have earned the rank of Eagle, that represents less than 1 percent of the U.S. adult male population. Currently, according to BSA statistics, only four of every 100 boys who join Boy Scouts will earn its top rank.
Among those who have earned the Eagle rank are former President Gerald Ford, Gov. Rick Perry, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, astronauts Neil Armstrong, James Lovell and William McCool, “Dirty Stars” host Mike Rowe, director Steven Spielberg, actors James Stewart and “Ozzie” Nelson, news anchor Walter Cronkite, baseball great Henry Aaron, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen Jr., Michael Dukakis and H. Ross Perot.
The first Eagle was awarded in 1912 to Arthur Rose Eldred, a 17-year-old from Long Island, N.Y. In 1982, 13-year-old Alexander Holsinger of Normal, Ill., was recognized as the 1 millionth Eagle Scout. In 2009, Anthony Thomas of Lakeville, Minn., became the 2 millionth Eagle.
To commemorate the Eagle Scout centennial, a special-edition patch is available for those who earn the Eagle Scout Award this year.
According to researcher Gary Twite, district commissioner of the Green River District in Chief Seattle Council in Washington, Boy Scout’s first Eagle, Arthur Rose Eldred, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.on Aug. 16, 1895. His father died when Arthur was very young, and he was raised in Oceanside, Long Island, N.Y., by his mother.
Scouting came to Oceanside in 1910, largely through the efforts of Arthur’s older brother, Hubert W. Eldred. There was a troop of American Boy Scouts (an early rival to the BSA which had as its benefactor William Randolf Hearst) in nearby Rockville Centre, N.Y. The methods of the ABS revolved around military drills, which this troop held in the Rockville Centre Club. Hubert Eldred went to New York City to the ABS headquarters to see about forming an ABS troop in Oceanside. However, during his visit to New York, he also visited the offices of the fledgling organization of the Boy Scouts of America, which were then located in the YMCA building.
Hubert was so impressed with the ideals of the BSA that he decided to form what was to become BSA Troop 1 of Rockville Centre, N.Y., in November 1910, and served as its scoutmaster.
Eldred’s troop was one of the first troops in the United States to be completely uniformed. Being so well uniformed and drilled, it was logical that James E. West, the first national scout executive, asked the scoutmaster to bring the troop to New York City to serve as honor guard for Gen. Robert S. Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, on a 1912 visit from England.
Read the complete article and more from myplainview.com – HERE
9 Comments
Hi Mike,
My son, along with 3 other Eagle Scouts from Troop 151 are combining their Eagle Scout ceremony on Monday, June 11th. Our troop has some of the most awesome scouts parents. We are requesting a congratulatory letter from you but would love for you to attend the ceremony as well. Although, you have a more than busy schedule, it never hurts to ask :~) If by chance, you are in Maryland during this time, we would love to have you attend their ceremony. We are located in Salisbury, Maryland 32 miles west of the beach resort of Ocean City, Maryland. By the way, your Mother must be so proud of you!
From a proud Mom,
Arlene Shaheen
Here is the link where you can send your request for the Eagle Scout letter - http://www.mikeroweworks.com/scrap-yard/eagle-scout-letter/
Being the Committee Chair for our Troop here in Fairfield, I have been to several Eagle COH. Today I went to the Cook’s third son’s Eagle COH yes having 3 son’s all Eagle’s is not a big thing but having 3 son’s all with Cystic Fibrosis and Eagle Scouts is absolutely wonderful. I have gone on outings with these young men. Down the road and all the way to Alaska. These young men are remarkable, through all their treatments and medications, they continue to live normal lives and have fun outdoors when kids without disorders will not even go out side to walk down the street. Knowing these men, makes me proud to be an adult volunteer to help out.
Dear Mike,
I recently acquired the rank of Eagle Scout, and would be honored if you would be my master of ceremonies! Please check out this video I made for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia-ug66zI7A&feature=youtu.be
Thanks for your consideration,
Joe Bradshaw
thank you.
Hello Mike, I am in charge of my councils upcoming Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet and we are doing something special for the 100th Eagle Award Anniversary. I would like you to be a part. Could you have one of you folks contact me please. By the way I saw you on Last Man Standing well done! Thanks for all you do for Scouting. I was at the Jambo NICE entrance and your letter to future Eagle Scouts spot on.
Floyd
Hi Mike. I just compiled everything to be come an Eagle Scout and I would love a letter from you. My Eagle program is March 11, 2012. I love your dirty show and love what you get yourself into. I have thought anything for you to do with me yet.
Thank you for your time.
Love, Ben
*You can request an Eagle Scout letter from Mike – http://www.mikeroweworks.com/scrap-yard/eagle-scout-letter/
Congratulations Ben! – mrW
hey mike i have just passed my eagle board of review i saw you at the hundredth anniversary. I love your show and speech at the national jam thank you for going
First we want to thank you for the Eagle Scout letter. Our son’s Court of Honor is March 31, 2012 and we know that he will be very excited to get your letter. We are wondering what your Eagle project was? We see on your web site, photos of your Court of Honor but nothing on your project. Thanks again for all you are doing for Scouting. Hope to see you again at the National Jamboree.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for promoting Scouting and proving that hard work pays off. My husband is an Eagle Scout, my oldest will be facing an Eagle Board in the next few weeks, and my youngest is crossing over into a Troop during our Blue & Gold on February 25th. I have been a den leader, a merit badge counselor, a Popcorn Kernel, a pack treasurer, etc., as well as a homeschool mom. We love your shows and appreciate your love for and faith in America.
…and, yes, I would greatly appreciate it if you had time to send a letter of congratulations to my oldest (mentioned above…getting his Eagle…).
Thanks for all you do and God bless,
Rebecca Crisp
Garden Ridge, TX