My Boy Scout

I once vowed (to myself) to try really hard not to post twice on one day ... but here we are. I have things to do, a house half dusted and bookwork to finish, but I find myself thinking about my son and my country and I had to share a little bit more.

In September 2001, my son was 12 and was an active Boy Scout, had been on his first high adventure, had served a week as a Mackinac Island Honor Scout, and had been to the National Boy Scout Jamboree all during the summer months that year.

BOY SCOUT OATH:
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.

Jon took the Boy Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan very seriously, which is why it was so important to fly that American flag during the weeks after September 11. And it's still why he notices our flag when he drives by our house on his way home from work.

And it was his group of scouts whose idea it was to make sure that there was a flag raised and lowered during campouts out in our woods by the lodge and camp where Boy and Cub Scouts still camp today.

Jon went on to continue to be active in scouts and became an Eagle Scout. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.

In his senior year of high school, Jon very seriously considered joining the United States Army. The thought scared me beyond belief. As fate would have it, Jon's life took a different path, but he is no less loyal to what his country stands for. And for that, I am proud.

One last thing. Jon, who loves that hard, head-banging rock that I just can't listen to, for a short time loved country music (though he will barely admit it now!).

And this is what started it:

Duker-day...And The Football Game

This is what happens when Boy Scouts have free time and decide to play football.

Naturally I, Duke the wonder dog, has been invited to play!

I know I'm in there somewhere. Obviously, a key player in the game.

There I am, in the thick of things (see me behind the tree?)!

And this? This is what happens after the game...

Sincerely, your blogging dog friend,
Duke

Duker-day...And There Are Scouts At Camp!

Sorry for the quick post, but I'm out in the woods.

THERE ARE SCOUTS CAMPING ALL WEEKEND! HAPPY DAY! HAPPY DAY!

I'll be back next week.

Eagles in the news

I know this is old news. I know that I've already talked about this.

But I just had to share this article in our local paper from last Friday.

Hey! I'm proud.

Hope you're having a lovely Wednesday,

An Eagle Ceremony

I promised to share pictures from my nephew's Eagle Ceremony. First, I thought I would share exactly what an Eagle Scout is. When I was actively involved in volunteering in my son's Boys Scout troop, I used to be able to rattle these requirements off right from memory. So that I don't make a mistake, I consulted with scouting.org and here are the requirements:

Eagle Scout Rank

• To earn the rank, a Boy Scout must:
• Progress through the ranks in the following order:
• Tenderfoot
• Second Class
• First Class
• Star
• Life
• Eagle
• Earn 21 merit badges, including:
• First Aid
• Citizenship in the Community
• Citizenship in the Nation
• Citizenship in the World
• Communications
• Environmental Science
• Personal Fitness
• Camping
• Family Life
• Personal Management
• Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving
• Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming
• Serve six months in a troop leadership position.
• Plan, develop, and give leadership to a service project for any religious organization or any school or community.
• Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
• Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Boy Scouts with disabilities may qualify for the Eagle Scout rank by fulfilling alternative requirements as determined by their council.

Earning your Eagle is no walk in the park. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Not every Boy Scout becomes an Eagle Scout. But every Boy Scout benefits from what they learn through Boy Scouting. As I will explain a little, through these pictures, Boy Scouting is important in our family.
Caleb's ceremony...in pictures:

The benediction with Father Joe. You probably don't recognize him, but he was also in my last post as he was the priest who married Jim and I.

The Color Guard preparing to post the colors.

The flag being raised at Camp Welser.

Master of Ceremony, who was the Scoutmaster of the Boy Scout troop when my son joined.

Caleb's uncle, my husband, Jim, says a few words. He was an Assistant Scoutmaster of this troop when I met him in 1982 and is also a former Scoutmaster.

An Eagle Scout from the troop talks a little about what it means to be an Eagle.

As does this Eagle Scout, who happens to be Caleb's uncle (Jim's brother). His two sons are Eagle Scouts.

And this Eagle Scout says a few words too. He's Caleb's cousin, my son.

Here's another of Caleb's uncles speaking. He was a Scoutmaster in the troop way back when and is the father of two Eagles.

In the audience..my son, my husband, and my mother-in-law.

The Eagle candidate chooses an Honor Guard to escort them to receive their Eagle.
This is Caleb's Honor Guard, who happen to be fellow Order of the Arrow members.
They made a great entrance, coming out of the woods with a torch they stopped to light the fire there
before proceeding to escort Caleb.

Escorting Caleb to receive his Eagle.

Caleb's brother, a fellow Eagle Scout, giving the Eagle Charge.

And a brotherly hug.

Caleb receives his Eagle from a long time Assistant Scoutmaster in the troop, who is a former Scoutmaster.
Looking on are all of the Eagle Scouts in the family.

The current Scoutmaster placing Caleb's Eagle neckerchief on him.

Jim, keeping an eye on the fire.
I must add here that Jim was a Boy Scout and was very close to earning his Eagle rank when the leadership in the troop became scarce and, sadly, he was never able to earn it. He has more than made up for it in service and leadership to that same troop.

Caleb presenting the parent's pins to his mom and dad.

And getting a hug from his mom (she's Jim's younger sister).

Caleb giving flowers to his grandmothers. First to one grandmother (Ma)...

And then to his other Grandmother.

Caleb had chosen a fellow Eagle Scout, Eric, from the troop as the recipient of his Mentor Award, chosen by the Eagle Scout and awarded to someone who was especially helpful to him along the Eagle Trail.
Eric, a wonderful young man whom we have known since he was a little boy, is away at college so Caleb presented the award to Eric's parents in his absence.

Here is one proud grandmother! One of her sons and all seven of her grandsons are Eagle Scouts, and all from the same Boy Scout troop!
Caleb is the youngest of the grandchildren so this was a very special and proud day in our family.