Re: A permanent decision

At Mike's request, I would like to share how our Pack dealt with the
loss of a scout.

Our Pack was indeed blessed with the participation of Chuck, a Unit
Commissioner and committee member, his wife Susan, a person you
could always count on to help head a coat drive, or spearhead the
District "Scouting for Food" program, Jeff, a 2nd Year Webelos,
very bright, all -A student, and gifted budding artist, and his Tiger Cub
brother Clinton, probably the most enthusiastic young man you will
ever meet. Ever since Jeff was a member of our pack, Clinton was
always there taking part in family programs, and just itching for the
moment when he too could be an official part of the Cub Scout program.
You just couldn't meet a more loving, active family.

In November, 1995, while traveling on a two-lane highway in a wet
slushy snowstorm, on their way to visit relatives, Chuck hit a patch
of ice, lost control of the family station wagon, spun 90 degrees and
skidded sideways directly into the path of oncoming traffic. Susan
and Clinton were killed instantly. Chuck had his hip and leg shattered,
and Jeff was thrown up against the rear passenger door, breaking an arm,
his jaw, and major trauma to the head. He was in a coma for over 3
months,
eventually coming out of it, but severely limited in his use of his right
side, and
his speech and learning ability slowed. (However his sense of humor is
still in
tact - he got great pleasure watching me wonder what happened to my water
supply at a Pack Car Wash while he had crimped the hose.)

Many of us had great difficulty dealing with this tragedy. There was
anger
generated to no one in particular, but just trying to cope with the
apparent
waste of such energy, enthusiasm, and outright scouting spirit. We all
know of people who spend their lives with self promotion, and here were
people who never asked for, or wanted recognition, but were always there
to help. Clinton, wanting so badly to be a Cub Scout, and only got to
live
that dream for a scant 2 months.

We chose to remember Susan and Clinton by establishing a perpetual Tiger
Cub
Memorial Campership Fund. At each fund raising event, each boy that
participates
is given a percentage share of the allocated funds for use at Day Camps,
Summer
Weekend Camps, Webelos Resident Camps, etc. We now add Clinton as a
participant
in every such event, and the money is accumulated in his name in our pack
accounts.
At the end of the year, the Tiger Cub with the greatest amount of
participation for the
year is awarded these Memorial funds as well as his own that he has
accumulated.

In addition we have made several donations to the local public library in
the name
of Susan and Clinton, so that they might not be forgotten. In this way
we are
able to remember the contributions that they have made to our lives,
hopefully
on a perpetual basis.

Thanks for letting me share this with the list.

Dick Sofian - dsofian@juno.com
dsofian@geocities.com 74156.3703@compuserve.com
Assistant Cubmaster St. Louis (MI) Cub Scout Pack 3609
Brotherhood Member, Mischigonong #89, Lake Huron Area Council
http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/6028

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