Virginia Boy Scouts -100th Anniversary
” On Wednesday February 17, 2010, Boy Scouts and their volunteer adult Leaders from throughout the Commonwealth visited the Capitol for their annual Report to the Commonwealth. In addition to meeting with Lietenant Governor Bill Bolling and Governor Bob McDonnell, the Scouts were honored with a center-aisle presentation of House Joint Resolution 236, which I authored, commending the Virginia Boy Scouts on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary. Since 1910, Scouting has produced generations of young Americans of virtuous charater, fully prepared and ready for lives of leadership and service to others. The remarks are provided below.”
Thank you Mr. Speaker, Members of the House. Joining us here at the Capitol today are Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Scouts, Sea Scouts and their adult volunteer leaders from around the Commonwealth who are visiting here at the Capitol to celebrate the Centennial of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. Last week, on Scouting’s 100th Birthday the House adopted House Joint Resolution 236 Commemorating a century of service to our Commonwealth and our Nation. These young Scouts represent the 73,000 young Virginians who benefit from Scouting programs today, as well as the 35,000 volunteer adult leaders who make those programs possible.
Back in 1910, a Chicago lawyer was on a business trip to London and became hopelessly lost in the fog. A young boy approached him and offered to lead him back to his hotel. When William D. Boyce tried to pay the boy a tip for his help, the unknown young man refused and explained, “No sir. I am a Boy Scout, and Boy Scouts never accept any reward for doing a good deed,” and then disappeared into the fog. That unknown Scout, and his anonymous good deed, so impressed Boyce that he visited the founder of Scouting, General Robert Stephenson Smith Lord Baden-Powell, and obtained information about the new youth movement. On February 8, 1910, Boyce, and other Americans concerned with promoting good citizenship by developing young men of virtuous character, founded the Boy Scouts of America in Washington, D.C.
Over the past 100 years Scouting has produced generations of young men of character, fully prepared for lives of leadership and service to others. Even folks who were never involved with Scouting recognize their distinctive uniforms, their dedication to Be Prepared and to Do a Good Turn Daily, and most everyone recognizes and respects the Eagle Scout Award, the pinnacle of achievement and highest award that may be earned by a Scout.
Eagle Scouts must of course demonstrate proficiency in camping, cooking, hiking swimming and first aid. But they must also demonstrate leadership, planning and organizational skills, learn the essentials of personal financial management and physical fitness, and develop a lifelong habit of public service to others. The Gentleman from Lancaster, Mr. Pollard, will be happy to know that Scouts also learn sound stewardship of natural resources, to be clean in their outdoor manners, considerate of others, and be conservation minded. The Gentlewoman from Richmond, Delegate McQuinn, will be happy to know they must be careful with fire. We all know that the ranks of famous Eagle Scouts include Presidents like Gerald Ford, astronauts like Neil Armstrong, and legendary athletes like Hank Aaron. Most here would not be surprised to learn that the Clerk of the House and Keeper of the Rolls of the Commonwealth, Bruce Jamerson, is an Eagle Scout. Of course, my seatmate, the Gentleman from Albemarle, Delegate Bell, is also an Eagle Scout.
But what makes this award so special is that most Scouts don’t make it to Eagle. Joe Thiesman told the Scouts last night that he only made it to Life Scout. Governor Bob McDonnell told the Scouts earlier this morning he only stayed until he had earned his Second Class Badge, and nearly destroyed his mother’s kitchen earning the Cooking Merit Badge. Delegate Alexander is a proud Life Scout from Troop 102 in Norfolk, Virginia. But each of these men agree that their time in Scouting has given them skills and values which continue to influence them even today.
Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but later in life, all of these men will remember that they had been in Scouting and will speak well of the program.
Of the one hundred, Delegate Bell will tell you that only rarely will one ever appear before a Juvenile Court judge. Twelve of the one hundred will be from families that belong to no faith community or place of worship. Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church, temple or synagogue and will continue to be active in that faith all their lives. Six of the one hundred will become ministers.
Each of the one hundred will learn something from Scouting, and all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees, profit from their Scout training. That’s why the Armed Forces and especially their service academies, place a high premium on recruits who have been Scouts. The Gentlemam from Alexandria, Delegate Englin, is both a graduate of the Air Force Academy, and an Eagle Scout.
At least one will use his Scouting experience to save another person’s life, and many may credit it for saving their own.
Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank. That statistic holds true here today on the floor of this House. At least one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree….. in this case, that would be me!
Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred boys will become adult leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys. Like Siver Beaver Award recipients Delegate Morgan Griffith and Speaker Bill Howell, they have given hundreds of hours of volunteer service to their local councils. Or like Star Scout Onzlee Ware, who as a recent college graduate, before he was the Delegate from Roanoke City, was a District Scout Executive with the Blue Ridge Council.
One in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to note that, of the top leaders of this nation in business, religion, professional sports, the military and politics, three out of four were Scouts. Scouting makes our young men better citizens. Think about it: What if every young Virginian promised on their honor to be trustworthy, loyal, and helpful, friendly, courteous and kind, obedient, cheerful and thrifty, brave, clean and reverent? Would we need to spend so much time considering new laws and regulations? Would we need so much government?
So today Mr Speaker, Members of the House, I hope you all will please join me to honor the Scouts and their leaders, for 100 years of service to our Commonwealth and our Nation, producing generations of young men of character, ready and prepared for lives of leadership and service to others.
