bobalinc

Just a quick note to congratulate Maj Steele for his Honor Medal. In answer to the comments/questions regarding the awarding of the medal, the National Capital Area Council only recommends awarding of the Medal based on their investigation of the circumstances, then forwards that information on to the National Court of Honor at BSA National Headquarters for final review and approval. Many recommendations are downgraded to either the Heroism Award or Medal of Merit. In this case the Medal was approved and Maj. Steele is to be congratulated for this very high Honor. Similar to that of Awarding the Medal of Honor by the military. On average about 20 to 25 Honor Medals (including those with crossed palms) are awarded each year out of about 5,000,000 eligible members of the BSA. I submit this information to you as a prior Honor Medal recepient and current member of the National Capital Area Council. Yours In Scouting! RJA

Guess what folks? I just found out that I shortly will receive two more awards, that will make square knots numbers 22 and 23. And you know what? I'm going to sew them on my uniform also! My uniform looks like some kind of knot display tac board! Or is that tacky board. Either way, I earned them all and I'm proud of it. Lot's of hard work for this has been. Actually I really couldn't care less about those knots, but I sure do care about all the time and in one case almost my life in earning them! Your's In Scouting!

Time to talk beads, knots and other things! For many years I would only wear my HONOR MEDAL knot because most youth and adult members of the BSA have no clue to what it means! If some of you out there are offended by that, then so be it. If you ever get the chance and hopefully that chance never comes, you'll appreciate that Knot and Award a little more. So on with my story. I decided recently after ignoring the other 20 knot awards I've earned as both a youth and adult, that I was going to wear them all to encourage the youth and adults in scouting to be proud of who they are and what they do for this world of ours. If wearing my woodbadge beads or 21 square knots offends then so be it. I'm not ashamed of what I've done for the last 48 years and I don't need to boast about it. But I'm not going to hide in a corner so to speak so that others complain about what some have done in scouting and have failed to do themselves. Scouting is a youth program and the youth of scouting deserve to have examples set for them to go by. Set the example of not wearing your awards at all or not wearing them properly and they will do so likewise. If that makes your day then do it and don't complain when it happens. If the BSA ever does away with the uniform then there will be no more issue regarding beads, knots and other things! Until that time comes, lets get on with the program. Yours In Scouting from a Scouter who is proud of this movement and all of the aspects of it.

I lost my Honor Medal several years ago and National did replace it for me. Contact the Boy Scout Services Division at National regarding your loss. They will verify your claim with their records, and only then will they replace the medal. They take replacing heroism and meritorious service awards very seriously. In addition, they will require you to pay for the replacement. It takes time, but it will get done. RJA

A Jambo Forum sounds like a great idea fellow scouters! If I can be of any assistance, please let me know. 2005 will be my fifth National Jamboree and I've got one World Jamboree under my belt. International Hosting! Scuba Staff for 2001 though. Regards! Bob