One hundred years ago today, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was founded by W. D. Boyce.   The Scouting movement was started in the United Kingdom in 1907 by Lord Baden-Powell.   Boyce brought Scouting to the US after meeting with “the unknown Scout” in London, many legends springing up around this encounter.   From that humble beginning sprang the largest youth movement in the free world.

There are celebrations planned around the country and online on this date.    Scouts and Scouters are being encouraged to wear their uniforms on this date.  The BSA also has events planned throughout the year in honor of its centennial,  with the high point being this Summer’s National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill.  If  you see any links to coverage of today’s anniversary events, please add them in the comments.   I will try to add some myself as I find them.

Happy Birthday to the BSA!

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Last night while falling asleep in front of the TV with my cats, I was watching “Pawn Stars” on The History Channel.   The show features a Las Vegas pawn shop and the stuff that’s brought in there to be sold or pawned.

One of the potential customers was an elderly gentleman who visited in complete Scout uniform looking to sell a large accumulation of stamps.   He was looking to raise money to send boys to camp.   He was hoping there would be something of great value in the pile of unsorted used postage stamps still on paper.   He referred several times to a “million dollar stamp”.  The horde, from what could be on TV, was very unremarkable and seemed to be heavy in stamps from the Third Reich.   Those who buy patch collections could sympathize with the plight of someone trying to buy this:  imagine if it was a completely unsorted and unfocused patch collection.

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Wednesday night (11/11/09) Rush Limbaugh was in New York to attend the banquet at the Westchester-Putnam Council.   According to Limbaugh, his good friend, Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of the Fox News Channel, was presented with the council’s “2009 Good Scout Award”.  Limbaugh introduced Ailes.

Limbaugh says this about the Boy Scouts:

…I was a Boy Scout once, for a year.  But one of the reasons I wanted to go was because the values that are the Boy Scouts are American values, traditional American values.  That room last night, as I said in my remarks before presenting Roger, that room was America, and it’s values like that are going to save this country…

Limbaugh also played on his show Thursday a brief quote from Ailes’ acceptance speech:

…Every generation gets called to meet a challenge. This generation will as well. I am heartened to know that what the enemies of America don’t know is that someday they will meet the courage, resilience, dedication of these young Americans we are so proud of, and they will keep America free…

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On this Veterans Day, and the 91st anniversary of the end of World War, please take a few moment to remember those whose service to this country throughout the years helped to preserve and defend this nation.   It’s just a pittance of time.

(video after the jump)

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The world was a very different place 20 years ago.  Europe was divided between two opposing powers, engaged in a “Cold War” for decades.   Germany was split in two.   A wall split its former capital, helping to make those in East Germany prisoners in their own country.   Then the wall came down and all was changed.

Last Summer those who attended NOAC were told about the Power of One.   In this case, it was the power of a few:  those who dared to dream of freedom for Germany and Europe and who lead others towards that end.

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With the news stories lately of BSA members who have run afoul of zero tolerance policies in our government run schools, I thought I would share a bit of good news.

A 10 year old Cub Scout with autism is credited with saving his teacher’s life.  He applied the lessons he learned in Cub Scouts.  As the teacher says, “He is my hero.”   CNN’s video report on this story can be seen here.

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On this eighth anniversary, here’s  a musical selection for today.   Never forget the “common” man.

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Unami 1 J10

Today at NOAC will celebrate the memory and legacy of the founders of the Order of the Arrow with the traditional Founders Day events.    Events center around exhibit and displays from the lodges.  Many of the exhibits highlight items, customs, or traditions from the lodge’s home area.   Many lodges give away small gifts.   In the past food and drinks were also prepared, but new health and safety regulations will curtail this aspect of the event.

In honor of the founders, I thought I’d share some of the patches that have depicted E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson.

For various reasons, Col. Edson is not as well remembered or honored as Dr. Goodman for his role in the founding of the OA.   So, it’s appropriate that the first patch I show is possibly the only lodge issue to picture both founders.  It  is the J10 from Unami 1, issued as part of a set of jacket patches Unami issued for the OA’s 75th anniversary.

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Kaylene Trick © 2009 Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America

Last night at the National Order of the Arrow Conference the 2009 Distinguished Service Awards were presented.  49 brothers were bestowed this honor and recognized for their exceptional service to the Order and bestowed.   I believe one brother in particular earned a special place in OA history last night.  Quoting from the NOAC 2009 Live! section on the National OA website:

Kaylene Trick
Kay is a Vigil Honor member of Susquehanna Council and Woapea Sisilija Lodge. She is a member of the Order of the Arrow National Committee. According to her DSA nomination form, Kay’s “service to youth spans more than 20 years and includes leadership to Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing, and the Order of the Arrow.”

I take this opportunity to extend my sincerest congratulations to Brother Trick and all the other recipients of the Distinguished Service Award.

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Harry Patch, 111, passed away quietly at about 9am BST today.  He was the last surviving British army vetaran from World War I.   A more detailed story can be read online from The Times.   The BBC has published a photo tribute to him online.

His death comes only a week after the passing of Henry Allingham, 113,  the last founding member of the RAF.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, of his passing, “..The noblest of all the generations has left us, but they will never be forgotten. We say today with still greater force, We Will Remember Them…”

The article states:

…The Ministry of Defense called Patch “the last British survivor of the First World War,” although 108-year-old Claude Choules of Australia is believed to have served in the Royal Navy during the conflict…

Mr. Patch served in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, so it is only fitting that tributes to him are being led by the current Duke of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales.

Claude Choules, who served in the Royal Navy, is now considered to be the last surviving veteran of WW1 to have served in the British forces.    He currently lives in Australia, and is apparently a citizen of that country, and is why Mr. Patch was the last surviving British veteran.   I think the writer was sloppy in saying “believed to have served” as I am not aware of any questions surrounding Mr. Choules’ service.

Only three confirmed veterans of WW1 still survive.   In addition to Mr. Choules, there is John Babcock (who served for Canada), and Frank Buckles (the last surviving US veteran).

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