I was the first person in my family to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout. Although my father was involved in Scouting and loves it dearly, he will forever be a Life Scout. For me, this was a driving force in my Trail to Eagle. Scouting was always something that I shared with my father. He was involved with my Den when I was a Cub Scout, became an Assistant Scoutmaster when I crossed over, took over as Scoutmaster soon after that, and even attended the 2005 National Jamboree with me as an Assistant Scoutmaster while I served as the Senior Patrol Leader of the only Troop from our council. When I did something that was Scouting related, my dad was always right next to me.
I will never forget the day that I became a Life Scout. I walked out of my Board of Review and got in the car with my dad. "We're equal now" I said to him. "We're both Life Scouts." The next thing that my father said to me will forever be one of my favorite memories of him. "Son, You've already surpassed me." It was at this moment where I believe I made the conscious decision that I would become an Eagle Scout for my father.
I hold great pride in being an Eagle Scout. Not just because it represents things that I accomplished, but because it represents the very best parts of who I am. It represents all of those people that helped me get there. The Trail to Eagle is one that each Scout travels, but he is never alone. Along the way he receives help from fellow Scouts, Leaders, Friends and Family. And although I have said it many times before, to all those who helped me along my Trail, I thank you.
A few weeks back I was proud to learn that I was no longer going to be the only Eagle Scout in my family. My cousin Kevin had passed his Eagle Board of Review and was now, like me, an Eagle Scout. Shortly after leaving my night class I called my cousin to congratulate him on his accomplishment and to welcome him into the ranks. A few days later he messaged me, asking if I would participate in his Eagle Court of Honor. This moment filled me with great pride. I was honored for him to ask me to be a part of one of the most important and fulfilling days of his life.
I have spent the last few days trying to find the exact version of an Eagle Challenge that I want to deliver. My mind was drawn back to not only my Eagle Court of Honor, but also those that I have attended. I felt that I needed to find something that holds true to the very core of what being an Eagle Scout is supposed to exemplify. Something that will truly express the things that make me the most proud to be an Eagle Scout.
In my search I came across the following challenge that in my mind hit the nail right on the head:
The foremost responsibility of an Eagle Scout is to live with honor. To an Eagle Scout, honor is the foundation of all character. He knows that "A Scout is trustworthy" is the very first point of the Scout Law for a good reason. An Eagle Scout lives honorably, not only because honor is important to him but because of the vital significance of the example he sets for other Scouts. Living honorably reflects credit on his home, his church, his troop, and his community. May the white of the Eagle badge remind you to always live with honor.
The second obligation of an Eagle Scout is loyalty. A Scout is true to his family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation. His loyalty to his troop and brother Scouts makes him pitch in and carry his share of the load. All of these help to build the loyalty that means devotion to community, to country, to one's own ideals, and to God. Let the blue of the Eagle badge always inspire your loyalty.
The third obligation of an Eagle Scout is to be courageous. Courage has always been a quality by which men measure themselves and others. To a Scout, bravery means not only the courage to face physical danger, but also the determination to stand up for the right. Trusting in God, with faith in his fellowman, he looks forward to each day, seeking his share of the world's work to do. Let the red of the Eagle badge remind you always of courage.
The fourth obligation of an Eagle Scout is to be cheerful. To remind the Eagle Scout to always wear a smile, the red, white, and blue ribbon is attached to the scroll of the Second Class Scout award, which has its ends turned up in a smile.
The final responsibility of an Eagle Scout is service. The Eagle Scout extends a helping hand to those who still toil up Scouting's trail, just as others helped him in his climb to the Eagle. The performance of the daily Good Turn takes on a new meaning when he enters a more adult life of continuing service to others. The Eagle stands as protector of the weak and helpless. He aids and comforts the unfortunate and the oppressed. He upholds the rights of others while defending his own. He will always "Be Prepared" to put forth his best.
You deserve much credit for having achieved Scouting's highest award. But wear your award with humility, ever mindful that the Eagle Scout is looked up to as an example. May the Scout Oath and the Scout Law be your guide for tomorrow and onward.
Honor, Loyalty, Courage, Cheerfulness and Service. These are qualities that every Scout should hold dear to him and ones the Eagle Scouts should emulate to their fullest potential. Values that I believe Sir Robert Baden Powell would would categorize as defining features of an Eagle Scout. Values that a becoming increasingly hard to find among people these days.
At my Eagle Court of Honor one of my Assistant Scoutmasters explained to me that as an Eagle Scout I am a marked man. That for the rest of my life, people would look to me for advice, leadership and assistance purely because I am an Eagle Scout. This notion has so far played out exactly like he said it would. People often come to me for advice or help with things especially after finding out that I am an Eagle Scout.
As an Eagle Scout it is ones duty to help those after making their way along the Trail to Eagle. I am finding more and more that perhaps this holds true for the organization itself as well. the Scouting movement has lost its way. It has become corrupted by politics and personal views that have no place in Scouting and it is the responsibility of Scouts and Scouters alike to guide the organization back on the Trail.
In a few weeks I will stand up at my cousin Kevin's Eagle Court of Honor and deliver unto him the Eagle Challenge and Charge. I will be the one to say the words "By the power vested in me by the National Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts of America, it is my privilege and pleasure to pronounce you an Eagle Scout." This will be the second Eagle Court of Honor that I have had the honor to speak at in the last year. It is a privilege that for me brings a great amount of Pride in the man that I have become and the fact that people recognize it.
My only hope that as I welcome my cousin into the brotherhood of Eagle Scouts that I welcome him in a way that will inspire him to always live up to the Scout Oath and Law, even if the organization itself has lost its way.
