Happy Eagle Anniversary

I am, taking a break away from my series of educational posts about the residential real estate contracts that are so important these days to buyers and seller of property to enjoy the reminder the Boy Scouts send to me every year.

I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to achieve many things. They range from family opportunities, education, travel, and professional opportunities. One of the most important and proudest achievements was obtaining the Eagle rank as a boy scout.

I started as a Cub Scout. I met several important friends who were den members. Billy’s mother was my first den mother. We met in his basement. His father was a carpenter They had a great collection of tools in his basement that we had the opportunity to work with.

I became interested in science through cub scouts. In particular, at pack meetings through presentations by our Cub Scout Master. He was a Scientist who, following the flag salute and the repeating of the scout mottos and laws, presented us with a science demonstration.

One week he drove a rubber band into a piece of wood with a banana after having dipped each of these into a container of liquid nitrogen. At another meeting he shattered a rose and then a pink rubber ball after dipping them into liquid nitrogen. He even demonstrated a controlled explosion warning us not to try that one at home.

I went on to join the Boy Scouts through my church group. My opportunities there included attending the Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge. I was one of two scouts from Troop 10 to be part of a regional troop to represent the George Washington counsel.

My 1950 neckerchief slide

It was an amazing week being with scouts from all the states of our union. The president of the United State addressed that first such gathering since the war.

I had the opportunity to attend several summer camp sessions in New Hampshire. Without that opportunity a city boy, as I was at the time, would have been hard put to get some of the then required merit badges of nature, hiking, pioneering, lifesaving, etc.

The members of my scout troop were some of my early best friends. Several were a year older than I was. We were a group in either the Panther Patrol or the Eagle Patrol. I eventually became a patrol leader and then a senior patro; leader. Good experiences and lessons in leadership. We played football and baseball together. We even put a basketball team in a local youth church league.

My younger brother joined the cub scouts. Our mother was the Den Mother of his Den, and I was the boy scout assigned to help with his patrol. He and I even played piano duets together at joint pack and troop meetings held several time a year.

Scouting was, and is, important to me. Even today when I have hired lawyers for my law firm, or for any other job or opportunity, I always look to see if scouting is included on the applicant’s resume. If an applicant has attained the rank of Eagle, he has an inside edge to be hired.

I can recite the scout laws. I believe one cannot go wrong if he can and if he means and intend to live by them.

Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.