OldGreyEagle

I just posted this elsewhere but here we go again One part of YoungSpikedEagles Eagle Project was composing and running a flag retirement ceremony. Other portions were the replacment of American flags at the graves of veterans at local Cemeteries and collecting American Flags from the general public and governmental units. The local VFW was the sponsoring organization. As part of the Ceremony YoungSpiked researched the flag code and assembled a ceremony to be used while 712 American Flags were retired. The opening of the Ceremony was YoungSpiked saying "According to Title 36, section 176, of the United States Code: "No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America;" Paragraph K of this same section, states: "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Each flag that meassured three feet wide to 8 feet wide had a six foot length of hay bale twine tied to each corner. Four scouts then carried the flag to the fire by means of the twine, the fire had flames 2-3 feet high and was about 4'X 8' in dimension. As the scouts brought each flag over the fire, the flag would catch the heat rising from the flames and billow up. The scouts would then slowly lower the flag, by means of the twine down towards the flames. At about 3-5 inches from the flames the scouts would stop and within about 5-20 seconds (depending on the flag material, thin cotton being the fastest) the flags would literally explode into flames with only the charred ends of the twine touching the coals. The scouts would toss the twine into the fire and circle around to get another flag. The smaller flags that had been collected from Veterans graves were Bundled into 50 flags groups bound together with wire and brought over the fire vertically. Larger Flags were placed on a Metal Grill placed in the fire before it was lit While this was occurring the Bethlehem's Liberty High Schools' Bagpiper Corp and Band played alternating with the Reading of the Declation of Independance and a few other patriotic compositions. When it was over, the VFW group had tears in their eyes and thanked YoungSpiked who then had tears of his own.

http://www.whitetreeaz.com/yfof/yfof.htm The chorus goes Young Folks Old Folks Everybody Come To the Boy Scout Sunday School and have a lot of Fun Put your Backpacks, Sleeping Bags and Canteens at the door And you'll hear some bible stories that you've never heard before For Green Grow The Rushes http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2414(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

A Hydrogen Highway? What will it be called, the Hindenberg Highway? Oh the humanity, the humanity...

Bob, I have no doubt if you say such a survey was done, then it was, the question I have is how come it's not mentioned more. Why a few years later am I just being told it happened now. I would like to read the data, where can I find it?

One part of YoungSpikedEagles Eagle Project was composing and running a flag retirement ceremony. Other portions were the replacment of American flags at the graves of veterans at local Cemeteries and collecting American Flags from the general public and governmental units. The local VFW was the sponsoring organization. As part of the Ceremony YoungSpiked researched the flag code and assembled a ceremony to be used while 712 American Flags were retired. The opening of the Ceremony was YoungSpiked saying "According to Title 36, section 176, of the United States Code: "No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America;" Paragraph K of this same section, states: "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Each flag that meassured three feet wide to 8 feet wide had a six foot length of hay bale twine tied to each corner. Four scouts then carried the flag to the fire by means of the twine, the fire had flames 2-3 feet high and was about 4'X 8' in dimension. As the scouts brought each flag over the fire, the flag would catch the heat rising from the flames and billow up. The scouts would then slowly lower the flag, by means of the twine down towards the flames. At about 3-5 inches from the flames the scouts would stop and within about 5-20 seconds (depending on the flag material, thin cotton being the fastest) the flags would literally explode into flames with only the charred ends of the twine touching the coals. The scouts would toss the twine into the fire and circle around to get another flag. The smaller flags that had been collected from Veterans graves were Bundled into 50 flags groups bound together with wire and brought over the fire vertically. Larger Flags were placed on a Metal Grill placed in the fire before it was lit While this was occurring the Bethlehem's Liberty High Schools' Bagpiper Corp and Band played alternating with the Reading of the Declation of Independance and a few other patriotic compositions. When it was over, the VFW group had tears in their eyes and thanked YoungSpiked who then had tears of his own.

"...scouts will not be seen as cool by the kids who worship independence...." Lets see, when its done by the book (Arragant pedantic thumpers notwithstanding)the troop: Elects its own leaders Sets its own activity schedule Plans, organizes and runs events which may range from a week at summer camp to a ski trip to a wilderness surivial weekend, camping, fishing, kite flying, whatever they want. The adults associated with them have as a goal to be as uninvovled as possible Sounds pretty darn independent to me

All of what has been said is all the more reason for a nation wide survey of merginal and non scouts to ask why they are marginal or non-scouts. We here can have all kinds of reasons, dorky uniforms, poorly trained leaders, program not understood by the youth, etc. But until we ask we will never know and will only be operating on conjecture. I would agree that the uniform is not the reason why a majority of non-scouts are non-scouts, its a good smoke screen but the idea is to dig under that to the underlying reasons

Bob White, you are correct sir, that is exactly the type of questions I would ask. I would like to know about the feelings of the scouts at the peripheral edges of the program. What do they want? Is it the program or the way the program is being brought to the boys? Maybe a grass roots survey should be done, on subjects ranging from the uniform to advancement to what the boys want to do with the results published nationally. Its not unknown for major industries to survery their clients, maybe we should as well.

Good points all around. I would want input from the gung ho scouts, the ones who come to every meeting, uniform clean and pressed and walking straight. The real go getters, it would be hard, nay it would be criminal not to include them in a uniform change. But I would also seek out the scouts who have been second class for 2-3 years and ask them what they would like to see in a boy scout uniform. I would ask everyone, not just the elite. Maybe with such an approach a "uniform revolution/evolution could occur. Lets change the terminology, and have a uniform for Courts of Honor, Parades, etc and call it the "Formal Uniform", I was going to say Dress Uniform, but I htink the military uses that term. Then we could have official "Activity Uniforms" and I dont mean cotton t-shirts with a troop number hand stenciled on the back. Real BDU type pants, Columbia quality outerwear, Shirts, etc. Maybe the BSA takes a different aproach, it signs a 5-10 year agree ment with some apparel company that the Boy Scouts will use that companies products as the activity uniform. For example, lets say it will be the Dickies Company and the Boy Scouts will use a specific color pant and Ventures another color. Now, its not special order, and members can buy that brand and color wherever they wish. The price stays low because its not a special order. The same could be done with outerwear and shirts, anyway, its an idea. The company gets to say the official pants of the Boy Scouts or some such other line. I know it could be crass commercialism, but it could be a new revenue stream. ANyway, its a thought

Eamonn Eamonn Eamonn, what are we going to do with you Dude? Kewlio is a form of the word kewl, which is the phonetic spelling of the word Cool, which as most any hipster knows, means "alright!", or saying cool means the person is "down with that" topic. What I meant was it's very nice for the folks at Scouter.com to provide us with an equipment forum based on user requests. Ergo Kewlio!(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Ok, Mountainboarding is like skate boarding down a hill, the boards look like Skateboards on steroids (kinda like comparing Barry Bonds 6 years ago to his present form, but I digress). The Mountain board is bigger, stronger and has much bigger and wider wheels, lots of fun at a Ski resort in the summer as long as the rocks have been picked up, otherwise you could be in the header of your life

Ask and you shall receive

http://www.troop362.com/

Very well, where should I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving overhead lineman from Maine with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for Amway. My mother was a 30 year old Polish Catholic with webbed feet. My father would hunt, he would tell stories around a campfire, he would make outrageous claims, like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. A sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical. Summers in Suburban Chicago, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. If I was insolent, I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds. Pretty standard, really. At the age of twelve I received my first scribe. Well maybe not all the above is true. I was a scout in the Chicago Suburb of Wood Dale, its one town over from the western edge of OHare field. As a scout I was Quartermaster, Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader. I earned Eagle in 1969 and still have my Eagle Card to prove it replete with Richard M Nixons ersatz signature on it. Being a Boy Scout was the most fun I had growing up. The Troop I was in went to the Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park when I was with them. I am a scouter now because I want other youth to experience the fun I had and it drives me crazy when I see kids throwing it away. As a denizen of the Chicago suburbs in the 60s, especially the late 60s I learned wearing a scout uniform wasnt always the wisest choice. From mid1968 to 1970 we only wore our field uniform to courts of honor. The danger of physical violence was too great otherwise. My son, YoungSpikedEagle, was in Cub Scouts, earned the Arrow of Light, attained Eagle in 2001 and is the Vice President of the Venture Crew. One Sunday afternoon my son and I were making a monkey bridge in our back yard. (dont ask just accept) he looked at me and said I am so lucky to have a Dad who likes to do what I like to do and I looked at him, and said I am lucky to have a son who likes to do what I like to do. Its been a wild ride. I was an ASM but with the Spiked one aging out, I have transferred to Committee member status and am the District Advancement Chair and Assistant District Commissioner for Venturing. Before anyone says anything, I asked the District Chair for a replacment on the Advancement Chair part. I cant do both. Recently one of the youth in the Crew was named the Northeast Region Venturing President. I am so proud. I love being a scout and cant see me without it for a very long time PS: Did I mention I love to sing and tell sophomoric jokes and puns?

Double Yikes(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Yikes!(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Disturbing Mastadon Bones? Heck we had to hunt, kill, dress and butcher the darn fool thing and all we had were shards of obsedian, and, ... and, ... and, ... We liked it! Anyway, it was worth a shot. When my son took Env Science he read the book and did most of the work before he went. The observation in nature, the environmental impact part, he did the plants option and took pictures everyday, by the time he went to camp, he had it 95 % done. Our camp is only 40 minutes away, so going up for a pre meeting once wouldnt be bad, it was just a chance it could work for him

Hmmm, Lifesaving, Env Science, Wilderness Survival all in one week at Summer Camp,Hmmmm by crackee I dont see why the youngun cant do it, things ain't like they used to be, when I was a whippersnapper of a scout. To get the Lifesaving merit badge we had to carve our own life jacket out of a cork tree, and beleve me, finding a cork tree in the northern margin of the Louisiana Purchase certainly tested your tree Identification skill. to earn the Wilderness survival meritbadge we hiked naked in the woods and they wouldnt let us back to the fire until each scout brought back a pair of mastadon tusks Environmental Science? Heck thats easy now, when I was a scout you had to reanimate dead tissue, fortunately one of the scouts in my patrol had a dad who was a Dr. We all called him Dr Frankie, it was short for his real last name, which I forget what is was. If he does the pre work for the badges, especially Environmental Sciences he should have no trouble, again, IF pre work is done. How far is the camp from where you live? COuld he visit the camp ahead of time, like during week one and talk to the counselor and see what he could get done? Maybe he can have it all done before he starts His week there. ANyway, the those are the thoughts of an old geezer(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Had to post this, got it in an E-Mail from someone I love and respect and I figured if the 3 G's could generate interest, so can this: The most destructive habit......Worry The greatest Joy......Giving The greatest loss......Loss of self-respect The most satisfying work......Helping others The ugliest personality trait.......Selfishness The most endangered species...Dedicated leaders Our greatest natural resource......Our youth The greatest "shot in the arm...Encouragement The greatest problem to overcome......Fear The most effective sleeping pill..Peace of mind The most crippling failure disease....Excuses The most powerful force in life......Love The most dangerous pariah......A gossiper The world's most incredible computer..The brain The worst thing to be without.......Hope The deadliest weapon......The tongue The two most power-filled words......I Can" The greatest asset......Faith The most worthless emotion......Self-pity The most beautiful attire......SMILE! The most prized possession......Integrity The most powerful channel ofcomunication..Prayer The most contagious spirit......Enthusiasm

Its been awhile since I broke out in song: We light the light of Scouting, We give the flight to eagles, We light the light of Scouting, Throughout the world. We'll never be hiked under, Listen to our Scouting thunder, We light the light of Scouting, Throughout the world.

When I was attended the 2001 National Jamboree one of the attractions that really impressed me was the OA's "Scoutopia" exhibit. It really was impressive, if any of you were there, you know what I mean. During the performace, and I hate to call it that but my vocabulary lacks the ability to more adequately describe, several vignettes were presented with follow up discussions afterward. One vignette had a traveler walking down a road and call to a farmer in a field and asks the farmer what type of people lived in the area as the traveler was thinking of moving. The farmer asked what the people were like where the the traveler lived now and the traveler responded that they were vain, ignorant, unprincipled and surly (or thereabouts, its been awhile you know). The farmer replied the traveler would most likely find the people in the area the same way. Then they "replayed" the scene with a different traveler who asked the same question of the farmer who replied with the same question, but the second traveler had a diffeernt answer, this time the traveler responded that the people where he lived were polite, intelligient and courteous who were a joy to be with. The farmer then had the same answer, You will most likely find the people here to be the same. If you look at the world expecting to find junk, junk you will find, if you look for beauty, beauty you will find. If you don't have expectations and judge each event or person on their own merits, then you will find both junk and beauty. (Course you could argue whats beauty to one is junk to another, but what we look for clearly effects our observations)(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

I don't know how many football fans we have here, specifically the NFL fans, although there have been a few references to the NFL now and then. Those of you who follow the NFL will remember that after 9-11, many pre-game festivities included an American flag that would be stretched horizontally across the entire field. The bearers would ripple the flag while the Anthem was played. It was to me a rather awe inspiring sight, not at all disrespectful. At no time was I aware of any group complaining the presentation of the flag as such was disrespectful or wrong. To see the grand old flag being carried in smartly uniformed scouts stepping with pride and vigor cannot be bad. LittleCarl, you do what you feel you must, I cant beleive carrying such a flag in the manner you describe would be grounds for dismissal from the program. I think anyone "they" complain to will see the protest for what it is, a tempest in a teapot and you will be fine.

At the 2001 National Jamboree, there was one troop there outfitted in the old berets, they were all obtained off Ebay. It could have been an issue at one time, as I understood it to be, but it didnt seem so in 2001. I love this esoteric scouting stuff (sorry Barry)

Always thought the Red Berets went out because Curtis Sliwa and the Guardian Angels made their uniform a red beret and the BSA didnt want anyone confusing a scout as a Guardian Angel. The troop I was in had a patrol for Gung Ho guys, and only those in the patrol could wear the red beret, made for quite the espirit the core My son wore one for awhile, he made it his trademark, it was always easy to spot him with that red cap on. Then someone else wore one and he took his off, never to wear it again. I like them, not practical but then how often does the saber in the dress marine uniform get used? legally?

One way you could approach the situation is to comment to the scoutmaster that you were reviewing the scoutmaster handbook and it says in there that the troop is supposed to elect the Senior Patrol Leader and then see what he says, your next move is up to his reaction. What is your role in the troop? ASM? Committee member?