A Look At 100 Boys That Join Scouting
What It Means To Be An Eagle Scout
by Greg Gough
It means that I have the ability to be a leader. Not of a gang or of a
criminal organization but of like minded individuals that uphold a creed, a
sacred oath - a passion for life and the principals that founded the United
States of America. Patriotism is a loyalty I will never break. If called on I
would voluntarily give my life for my country. But more importantly, I will work
to make it better. Duty to God is an ongoing learning and incorporating of
similar moral values that ensure that I will be a compassionate and productive
citizen.
Eagle Scout is not a patch, an award, or a certificate to hang on the wall. It
is a way to live your life. Although the trail to Eagle is hard work and fun; it
is much more. The Eagle rank is an education. Each rank is a chapter. The
conclusion is that by earning the Eagle rank. The individual has the tools to be
a responsible, conscious citizen who would gladly advance the group before the
individual.
"Climbing the Mountain"
Afar in our dry Southwestern country is an Indian village, and in the offing is a high mountain towering up out of the desert. It was considered a great feat to climb this mountain, so much so that all the boys of the village were eager to attempt it. One day the Chief said, "Now boys, you may all go today and try to climb the mountain. Start right after breakfast and go each of you as far as you can. Then when you are tired, come back, but let each one bring me a twig from the place where he turned."
Away they went, full of hope, each feeling that he could surely reach the top.
But soon a fat, pudgy boy came slowly back and in his hand he held out to the Chief a leaf of cactus.
The Chief smiled and said, "My boy, you did not reach the foot of the mountain; you did not even get across the desert." This boy is a Scout.
Later a second boy returned. He carried a twig of sagebrush.
"Well," said the Chief, "you reached the mountain's foot, but you did not climb upwards." This boy is a tenderfoot.
The next had a cottonwood spray.
"Good," said the Chief, "you got up as far as the springs." This boy is a 2nd Class Scout.
Another came later with some buckthorn. The Chief smiled when he saw it, and spoke: "You were climbing; you were up to the first slide rock." This boy is a 1st Class Scout.
Later in the afternoon one arrived with a cedar spray, and the old man said, "Well done. You went half-way up." This boy is a Star Scout.
An hour afterwards, one came with a sprig of pine. To him the Chief said, "Good; you went to the third belt, you made three-quarters of the climb." This boy is a Life Scout.
The sun was low when the last returned. He was a tall, splendid boy of noble character. His hand was empty as he approached the Chief, but his countenance was radiant, and he said, "My father, there were no trees where I got to--I saw no twigs, but I saw the Shining Sea."
Now the old man's face glowed, too, as he said aloud and almost sang:
"I knew it! When I looked at your face, I knew it. You have been to the top. You need no twigs for token. It is written in your eyes, and rings in your voice. My boy, you have felt the uplift, you have seen the glory of the mountain."