Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Troop 669

So on Monday April 2, 2012 I was given the opportunity and invited to a Eagle Scout Court of Honor (COH) for a member of Troop 669 which ended up being a fantastic ceremony in which I got to say a few words about the new Eagle Scout, not really focusing on me but I should have prepared a short set of notes so I would be able to not ramble and focus on making my congratulations remarks much more organized but that really isn't important. What was important was that the new Eagle Scout got a lot of wisdom from the 8 or so adults that spoke about their experience with their own Eagle Scout Journey and what they believe is now expected as a Eagle Scout within their community and also in the global community. So before I get too much further I should probably say who it was which was a person of TD and the reason why Im using initials is that I did not get permission to specifically mention the persons name.

So in all the time that I have known about TD is that it was always interesting how he balanced his school-life, home-life, Scout-life, and finally his sports-life. Now many believe that balancing sports and Scouts is something that just doesn't work at all. Well people I hate to tell you this but thats usually not the truth at all and while I say that I also recognize that some people just don't know how to balance all the obligations or have different priorities in their obligations. Really though the obligations balancing act even though its important isn't a make or break deal for showing, knowing, and understanding what being a Eagle is all about. So the reason I found the obligations balancing act interesting is that in truth (WARNING!!! NOT A SUPER POSITIVE THOUGHT) he definitely was not on top of my list for becoming a Eagle Scout but that just goes to show that their are many different people with a very wide range of personalities and characteristics. Especially when I run into a Eagle Scout that I didn't think would make it, it just makes me more proud of that particular Eagle Scout. I guess what I saying is that TD should be even more proud because he first beat the odds to becoming a Eagle Scout. Second he showed that just because you don't always show up to meetings on a very regular basis doesn't mean that you aren't capable of becoming one of the few people to earn his Eagle in the BSA.

Hopefully people won't take that negatively but I guess I just wanted to show you that not all Eagle Scouts earn or have their Scouting journey as many expect would happen in regards to those who become Eagle Scouts. Beyond that when I was working and seeing him directly when I lived close enough to Troop 669 from 2007 to 2009 was that he developed a strong set of leadership skills and really didn't have a motivation problem when it came to working on and finishing advancement requirements.

My final words of this topic is to remind TD and every other Eagle Scout out their that one of the most important sayings that a Eagle Scout should understand, remember, and not take lightly is that of the following:

"Once A Eagle; Always A Eagle"

Personally Im not exactly sure what this means and even though I understand on a more basic level than I would like to Im just not sure if I will be given the opportunity to come as close as possible to a full understanding. Again congratulations to TD and may he always keep showing the Spirit of Scouting in his everyday life. As a Eagle TD is encouraged to become a person who has the knowledge and respect that is to be expected of a Eagle Scout and know that this is a responsibility that is obligatory in nature. Finally TD, may the Spirit of Scouting and the World Wide Brotherhood of the Scouting Movement always be with you until you depart from this world and the last thing is to remember that even though Scouting is so radically different in many different places in the world you are part of the largest Brotherhood and Sisterhood of youth in the world.

Just one last thought about Scouts and the Eagle Scout is that no matter where you are more than likely you are very close to one of your 27,999,999 brothers or sisters in the world you just have to spend the time to explore and look at the world carefully.

Yours in Scouting Service

Mark West

Assistant Scoutmaster

Troop 1316, Troop 1616(aka 669), Troop 125

Tustumena District/ Denali District/ Eklutna District, Great Alaska Council

NSJ '05 Youth Participant NSJ '10 Subcamp 7 Youth Staff NSJ '13 Subcamp Staff

WSJ '07 Youth Participant WSJ '11 International Service Team(IST)

Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Honor Big Horn Denver Area Council NYLT QM Philmont AA '08

If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional. If you are not paid to do Scouting, you are called a Volunteer. If you pay to do Scouting, then you are called a Scouter.