The following is a collection of inspirational pieces you can use in your Court of Honor.
Significance of the Eagle Rank
Webster's dictionary describes an eagle as a large bird of prey with sharp vision and powerful wings, famous for their strength, size, grace, and keen vision. It is the national emblem for the United States. Though the eagle is found throughout the world, it is never found in abundance; it is always rare and it is always a superb specimen.
In Scouting the eagle stands for strength of character, and for knowledge of all phases of Scouting. The eagle represents an understanding of community and nation, and a deep respect for same. The eagle is a symbol of what a young man has done as well as what that young man will do, and will be, when he grows to manhood. The eagle is a leader. The eagle is respected, both by his peers and by his adult leaders.
The EAGLE SCOUT AWARD is the highest award available to youth members of the Boy Scouts of America. It is a recognition by the National Court of Honor, presented through the local council and a local court of honor.
It represents many years of dedicated effort , and the successful completion of a long process which started when the young man became a Boy Scout. It is a demonstration of how people, working together, can truly help mold a young man with a solid sense of leadership, citizenship, and responsibility.
Not every boy, nor every Scout, qualifies for the high rank of Eagle.
1. The physical requirements are strenuous, as set forth in the required merit badges.
2. Mental requirements are unusual and require much more than average intelligence.
3. Perhaps an even more difficult and more important requirement for the Eagle rank is the personal character of the Scout as reflected in his right attitudes toward God and the ideals of Scouting, as reflected in his cooperation and service to others in church, the home, school and community. The applicant must have a high degree of the spirit of cheerful service to others which is a basis of good citizenship.
The attainment of the Eagle Scout Rank is indeed the highest honor that a Scout may achieve.
When a boy enters Scouting, in the three parts of the Scout Oath, he promises upon his honor to do his best to do his duty
Likewise, the Scout Law he promises to obey is put into effect as the occasion may demand. He is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
Each is an important foundation stone in the building of strong character.
An Eagle Scout is one who has taken the Scout Oath and Law, to which he has promised, and embodied them within his character. The Oath and Law have become a part of him, they guide and direct him.
Very few Scouts make it this far, only about 2% of all scouts, and it is a great achievement for all parties involved: the Scout, his family, his community, his unit, and the Boy Scouts of America.
Many Eagle Scouts have gone on to assume important positions:
one of our recent Presidents is an Eagle Scout; Gerald Ford so was one of our recent Presidential candidates H. Ross Perot
A previous survey of leaders revealed that
seventeen of our United States Senators over 60 of our Congressmen eleven of our state Governors fourteen of our senior military officers Over 1700 chief executive officers/presidents/heads of corporations are all Eagle Scouts.
Other Famous Eagles include
Of the 214 former and present astronauts, 142 have taken part in Scouting. 33 became Eagle Scouts, including Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon.
Awarding the Eagle is an important and serious matter. It is the climax and goal toward which this Scout has been working for several years. It is the culmination of the efforts of the parents and leaders of this Scout. It is an occasion for pride and for joy.
Eagle is the highest and most coveted award in all of Scouting, and it is the last major step in the advancement program. It is, at this point, that Scouting has achieved its purpose in these Eagles:
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I am the voice of the Eagle.
I speak for The Eagles whose summit you have struggled so hard to reach.
We remember well when you first came to the base of our mountain, and
how you looked up with ambition and determination.
Pause for a moment, and look back over the trail you have climbed:
Look back at the adventures you have encountered on your ascent. These
experiences are a valuable teacher if you but heed them.
We remember when you took your first steps upon the Boy Scout trail.
With your first step you began to start living the Scout Oath and Law.
You began to build yourself, physically, mentally, and morally. Your brother
scouts then called you a Tenderfoot -- and they were right, for you were
indeed a tenderfoot.
But not for long. For as you climbed, you soon reached a turning in
the trail, and you were greeted by a large group of friendly Second Class
Scouts.
Some, like yourself, were stopping to catch their breath, before continuing
along the trail. But you studied more, you worked harder, you continued
your climb, and soon came to another turning, the place where First Class
Scouts dwell.
There you found a green, flowered meadow close by a crystal clear stream,
sparkling in sunshine. Many other scouts rested beside the murmuring waters.
You were tempted to remain. But your ambition spurred you, and you continued
your upward venture.
We next remember your progress when you turned the trail to become
a Star Scout. You found the trail from First Class had been an optical
illusion, not so difficult as it had first seemed. This inspired you to
push onward, to climb higher.
But now the trail was steeper, and less traveled. Fewer Scouts seemed
headed in your direction. You looked back and saw crowds below you. You
looked up, and saw very few above. Yet, with the same determination as
you started your climb, now enhanced by experience and firm resolve, you
continued to push up the trail.
Soon you turned another corner on the trail and the Heart shaped badge
of the Life Scout was placed on your uniform. You will always recall the
thoughts in your heart at this moment, it has been experienced by all scouts
reaching the ledge of Life: "Now I am close to the Eagle, I will carry
on".
But the trail now grows tougher and fainter, many seem to falter along
the way. The original simple principles of the Scout Oath and Law take
on a fuller meaning, as your understanding grows greater.
WE, the Eagles, have watched your character unfold and become more
manly. We have watched your leadership ability expand into a valuable asset.
We have watched your mind develop and your wisdom increase. Yes, We have
watched all these things in you.
And now, that you are standing at the summit of the trail, in the glory
of sunshine and wind and cloud at the threshold of your goal, WE, your
Fellow Eagles applaud you and welcome you, for you have done your climbing
in a true Scout-like manner.
-- Thanks to Ben Parker, bparker@interaccess.com, ASM T-16 Oak Park
IL
I am Old Glory: For more than nine score years I have been the banner of hope and freedom for generation after generation of Americans. Born amid the first flames of America's fight for freedom, I am the symbol of a country that has grown from a little group of thirteen colonies to a United Nation of fifty sovereign states. Planted firmly on the high pinnacle of American faith my gently fluttering folds have proved an inspiration to untold millions. Men have followed me into battle with unwavering courage. They have looked upon me as a symbol of national unity. They have prayed that they and their fellow citizens might continue to enjoy the life liberty an pursuit of happiness, which have been granted to every American as the heritage of free men. While men love liberty more than life itself; since they treasure the priceless privileges bought with the blood of our forefathers; so long as the principles of truth, justice and charity for all remain deeply rooted in human hearts, I shall continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.
The Eagle Badge. The highest rank a Scout can earn. What is it worth?
Well, in dollars and cents it is worth about $7.50. Probably two and a
half dollars in silver, twenty five cents worth of ribbon, and the rest
of it in manufacturing and handling costs. But, what is it really worth
to you?
Think back to the time when you first became a Scout. Remember the
Scout skills that you learned for each rank? And the re- dedication to
the Scout Oath and Law each time you advanced. Think of the service that
you have given to your troop and to other people. Is your Eagle badge worth
seven fifty? Of course not! Your Eagle badge is priceless. It represents
everything that you have learned, everything that you have done, to be
prepared, to help others, and to help yourself. So now you stand on the
peak of the mountain. An Eagle Scout, now look ahead, look sharp. Way out
there in the mist is another mountain, and there below is the trail to
your future. It may be a long trail, or a short one, but it leads to that
mountain far away. As you walk down the trail, and as the years roll by,
and finally reach the end, we all hope that you can look back on the trail
of life and be able and proud to say, "I have done my best."
A great host of heroes with the help of God have kept me gallantly flying in the face of every threat and challenge to the Democratic way of life which I represent. The blood spilled at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, San Juan Hill, Bataan, Korea, Vietnam and now Kuwait and every other great battle fought on land, in the air and on the sea, is my red stripes. The shining light of sunshine is in my white stripes, penetrating the blackest night which, in the nation's darkest hours is filled with radiant light. The vast infinity of the heavens is in my stars inspiring mankind to continue climbing courageously up the spiral staircase of history to a world of glowing promise. I am the emblem of man's finest dreams. I am the last hope for peace on earth....I am the American Flag.
An honored symbol of a nation's unity, its hopes, achievements, glory and successes. The flag of the United States of America is such a symbol, of freedoms bravely fought for and hardly won. Of protection under the constitution of the rights and privileges of all Americans. Promises of fulfillment of all their hopes, principles and ideals. It is also a symbol of the duty of all her citizens to serve in time of need, to speak out for what each considers right, and to help correct under the law that is honestly believed to be wrong. Throughout the ages, man has developed character, courage, and strength, by devotion to the symbols he believed in. That is the heritage this symbol has left us.
Scouting Heritage
A Look At 100 Boys That Join Scouting
- 2 will attain the rank of EAGLE
26 of the first 29 astronauts were Boy Scouts. 11 of the 12 who walked on the moon were Scouts. 108 of 172 astronauts were Boy Scouts. Over half of the 108 Scout Astronauts attained Star, Life or Eagle ranks.
The following was taken from the program for the Eagle Recognition Breakfast for Jude A. R. Allegrucci of Troop 322 in Dunmore, PA. It was listed as "Author Unknown."
To help the scouts in our area feel the pride and love I have in our
scouting movement and the men to carry on when everything is against you
for the good of the scout.
Scouting to me is an idea which shall live on and on after I die. I
live, eat, sleep and talk scouting. This I do because I was shown by many
men, when I was a young scout myself, that the scout oath and law is the
way to happiness. Scouting has helped me in school, church and in the military.
So, scouts... never be ashamed of your uniform or your scouting.
Scouting is people who care. Some men cared enough to give it to me,
planted the scouting seed in me and saw it grow healthy.
I in turn want to give some of it back to others, boys of scout age
who will pass it on again. I feel I have a little bit of each man who helped
me on my trail to Eagle and manhood. It is hard to express the love for
scouting in words and thanks to these men.
There are many awards men and scouts can earn along the trail of life,
but the award I seek and cherish is a Thank-You from a scout or Scouter
I have helped or seen put into practice something someone learned from
me that I have learned from someone else.
This is my thank you to the men who helped me and to their wives who
let them.
What It Means To Be An
Eagle Scout
by Greg Gough
It means that I have the ability to be a leader. Not of a gang or criminal
organization but a leader of like minded individuals that uphold a creed,
a sacred oath. A passion for life and the principals that founded the United
States of America. Patriotism is a loyalty I will never break. If called
on I would voluntarily give my life for my country. But more importantly,
I will work to make it better. Duty to God is an ongoing learning and incorporating
of similar moral values that ensure that I will be a compassionate and
productive citizen.
Eagle Scout is not a patch, an award or certificate to hang on the
wall. It is a way to live your life. Although the trail to Eagle is hard
work and fun; it is much more. The Eagle rank is an education. Each rank
is a chapter. The conclusion is that by earning the Eagle rank the individual
has the tools to be a responsible consciences citizen who would gladly
advance the group before the individual.
Last update: 10/23/2007