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Scouts who don't achieve Eagle
George Costigan (george.costigan@MAILEXCITE.COM)
Thu, 28 May 1998 13:20:27 -0700
I have been following the messages regarding the "Charter Name Scout" who put his skills to use and rescued a kid on the railroad tracks.
I think that from reading the ongoing discussions that we all agree that the scout can and should be recognized for his heroism. I am somewhat disturbed that a lot of attention was placed on whether or not he was going to make Eagle before his 18th birthday.
This is a tremendous opportunity for Scouting to recognize someone who benefited from the program as fully as possible. We use various methods to help our boys develop in character, citizenship and physical fitness. Advancement, in this case, advancement to Eagle is only *one* of them.
The list of people who come to mind that participated in Scouting that *didn't* make Eagle is a long and distinguished one. The fact that so many people join the program, grow and develop in it, and remember their experience as a positive one is a strength we do not market well to ourselves to outsiders looking in. This mailing list has many people who return to the program to make sure other have the chances they had to at least have a chance to participate.
The fact that this young man continued to keep his registration active in light of so many activities indicates that he values his time and experiences spent in Scouting. He took what he learned from the program and applied it, and will likely carry the scars for the rest of his life.
We live in a society where there not enough heroes and role models to emulate. There is a good reason why the Heroes in Action is the most popular page in Boys' Life. (It's the first page my two Scout age sons look for in each issue.) We need to look at this situation and the life the boy has lived so far as a success, not as a failure. Recognize it for what it is, and make sure the newspapers spell the boy's name right.
YIS,
George Costigan
CM, Pack 157 Herndon VA (I guess this young man is too old to put on my charter - but I'd be honored to have him)
CSLBT Chair, Patawomeck District (Northern VA) NCAC
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