Re: adults wearing the eagle medal
(no name) ((no email))
Mon, 11 Jan 1999 13:50:37 -0600
"W. Scott Smith" <wsbsmith@INTELOS.COM> wrote and asked:
>at a banquet the other week, a fellow adult came up to me and told
>me that i'm not supposed to wear my eagle medal as an adult.
You should have asked him to show you where it says so in the BSA's
Insignia Guide, Scott!! I would have, and then watched him squirm
as he try to explain that's "it's a new policy" or something stupid
like that.
During ANY FORMAL OCCASSION, Scouts and Scouters are ENCOURAGED to
wear their FULL UNIFORM representing their current status in the
movement, with AS MANY OR FEW of the awards and other special items
as he or she are entitled or have been presented to wear.
This INCLUDES the Eagle Scout Medal by both YOUTH AND ADULT BSA
members.
The medal is worn immediately above the left pocket flap of the
wearer and should be centered if no other medals are being worn.
If more than one is worn, you should attempt to center the two
medals over the top of the pocket; the same goes for three, four
and five (the maximum number of medals which may be worn over the
pocket).
The order in which the medals appear on the shirt is UP TO THE
WEARER; there is NO sequence for wearing the medals on the uniform.
Many Eagle Scouts choose to wear ONLY the Eagle Scout medal
centered on the uniform (even though they may be entitled to wear
other medals or awards) during Eagle Scout Courts of Honor;
however, there's nothing which states that you *must do it this
way*.
Scouts and Scouters should try to not wear the medals and square
knots together (it confuses some individuals *silly face*);
however, Scouts and Scouters CAN wear the medals AND the square
knots TOGETHER in accordance with the guidance listed in the
previous paragraph and with the guidance listed in the Insignia
Guide concerning wearing square knot insignia representing insignia
earned or received.
The reference to all of this is found in the BSA's Insignia Guide
(take you pick, it's been this way since 1972 and before that, the
same guidance has been listed in BSA handbooks since the early
40s). Additionally, if that guy has access to the World Wide Web,
he can see illustrations on how to wear medals together and
separately as well as information on wearing square knots and
medals on the Unoffical Insignia site at
URL::http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/insignia.htm
One last note on wearing the Eagle Scout Medal: Eagle Scouts
*whether registered with the BSA or NOT* are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO
WEAR THEIR EAGLE SCOUT MEDALS during ANY formal occassion in which
Eagle Scouts or youth members are present. This includes Courts of
Honor (whether or not your son is being honored),
District/Council/Regional/National dinners or recognition
ceremonies, special retreat ceremonies and similar FORMAL
occassions. At all other times, registered adult Eagle Scouts may
wear the square knot which is available from any Scout Service
Center or Scout Shop{tm}, while those not registered may wear a
small Eagle Scout silver lapel pin on the collar of their civilian
attire or in other ways. Youth Eagle Scouts may wear the cloth
Eagle Scout Badge centered on the left pocket and the lapel pin
while wearing the "activity shirt" or on civilian attire.
Hope that helps, Scott
Settummanque!
(c) 1998 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") blkeagle@mninter.net
http://mninter.net/~blkeagle Burnsville, MN 55306-7130 (612) 435-3085
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@server.kaiserslautern.army.mil
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