Eagles amongst us

Chicago publisher W.D. Boyce was visiting London in 1909, and much like San Francisco in the middle of summer, was having a difficult time finding his destination through the thick London fog. A young boy noticed his confused state and came to his rescue escorting Boyce to his destination.  Boyce attempted to give the boy a tip, however, the young man refused, explaining that he was a Boy Scout and was required to do a good turn daily.

Boyce was so impressed that he contacted General Baden-Powell, who was the Chief Scout for the London organization, and brought back scouting to the US.  The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8, 1910. In 1914, Troop Fourteen held it’s first scout meetings, enlisting boys from the neighborhood. In many ways, San Francisco was still rebuilding, hit hard from THE earthquake which had hit less than a decade earlier. Troop Fourteen was incorporated in 1915 and will celebrate it’s 100th year in 2015.

The Boy Scouts of America is not without it’s controversies. It is one of the largest private youth organizations in the country and has policies prohibiting atheists, agnostics and homosexuals from membership. Earlier this year, “open or avowed” homosexual scouts were permitted to join, however, once one has reached the age of 18, one must either “close or dis-avow” their homosexual tendencies or be banned from participation.

Troop Fourteen is drenched in tradition and promotes positive life-long values. The Scout Law states that members shall be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. The program focuses on developing youth to become responsible citizens, self-reliant while building character. Outdoor skills acquired through the many camping trips and excursions held throughout the year, are by design, activities that build self-reliance.

My favorite excursion of the year was a two week backpacking trip into the Sierra Nevada. This trip was known as The Trek.  Imagine 60 boys and adult leaders preparing for two weeks in the wilderness. We needed food, clothes, tents, cooking equipment, rope and sleeping bags. Although toothpaste was mandatory, I didn’t always see it in every boys arsenal of necessities. More than one pair of socks should have been required. This trip was demanding and I know I carried with me into adulthood, the tools I learned on these trips, to deal with what seemed like physically impossible conditions.

One of the highlights of the Court of Honor was seeing old friends whose children have become Eagle Scouts or were inducted that evening.  I will never forget roaming through the canyons and climbing the snow laden mountain peaks with Jim Hobbs and Peter Weber. My memories with them include picking poison oak, getting poison oak, catching snakes, getting bitten by snakes, and cooking the worst pancakes on the face of the earth. So many years later, their sons Edmond and Jack have now reached the highest honor one can achieve in scouting, the rank of Eagle Scout. Present at the Court of Honor was Jack Weber’s grandfather, who joined the troop in the early 1930’s.

Since it’s founding in 1910, over 110 million Americans have been members of the Boy Scouts of America. Of those, only 2.7 million have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. I am proud to be an Eagle Scout and while, for a variety of reasons, have not enlisted my own boys into the scouting arena, do encourage them to “do a good turn daily.”  It’s just a good way to live.