dodaddy

In the distant past I had the honor to tap out my Father and Brother. Ours was an elaborate ceremony held on family night at summer camp (Weds) and the candidates were immediately taken away to perform the Ordeal. They were inducted the following evening at a private ceremony and introduced en masse at a campwide crackerbarrell Thursday evening. The entire camp could see them being led away by Brothers in full regalia and watch as their Ordeal projects ( real projects not just setting up tents or picking up trash ) were completed. The next time the campers saw them they wore the OA sash and an aura of mystery and honor was maintained. Sadly this is not the case in my current lodge but I and some other old timers are trying to get it back.

Let me see- having been active in the BSA since 1957 ( with the exception of military service) I am having a hard time recalling ever being required to attend a religious service-openly or publicly profess or swear to a belief in anything or confront anything similar to the gay not gay issue. What I do recall is a lifetime of great memories being made and lessons being learned. Who believed what never came up and no one cared. We had a gay kid ( at least he came out several years later) who was just as focused on camping and being a kid as the rest of us. We went to camporees and the National Jamboree but I can not recall ever hearing of the POLITICAL BS now blanketing the BSA and others. Common sense has been drowned out by the shouts of the politically correct few-we are so damned worried about lawsuits and "proper nurturing" that the overall program has suffered. OA is now the National Honor Society of Scouting not the BROTHERHOOD OF HONOR CAMPERS it was founded as. I don't care who camps where-who supports whom or what few dollars get spent for one program more than another-let's just get back to the real scouting program and let the politically correct and politicians fight over something worthwhile like a quality education for example.- I know this is basically a rant and relief thread but gee whiz I am fed up with all of the BS (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Being tapped and inducted in 1960, having tapped both my Father and Brother in subsequent years and enjoying the OA as a family I can say yes I am proud to be and Arrowman. Both my Dad and Brother have died and I have their flaps and sashes-my son wore his grandfathers' sash until he was awarded Vigil and now keeps them under glass. OA has been and remains a family tradition and an absolute joy. My only regret is that in our Lodge it appears many adults have a hard time getting out of the way and letting the boys control the program. Because I and several other oldtimers like me confront this attitude regularly we have been dubbed agitators and trouble makers by the adults - the youth applaud our efforts and that spurs us old guys on. The honor I felt 40+years ago remains every time I button the sash. Our principles of service and brotherhood are strong and a fine foundation for one's life. Being half American Indian I also appreciate the efforts the lads extend in respecting our customs and traditions as well.