Re: Observations / Service / Disaster

I'm importing the following from the Scouting OnLine Forum of America Online.
A discussion there picks up the thread laid by Mike Walton in SCOUTS-L
"Observations" on Jan 18. I think this positive note might start us looking
to the future with new hope. Any more good stories from these bad days?

Date: 94-01-31 01:05:09 EST
Subj: Emergency Service
From: MikeR29232@AOL.com

In Laguna Beach when the fires hit, it was the High School Boy Scouts
that babysat the younger kids that had been evacuated from the path of the
fires until the parents picked up the last child late at night. It was the
Boy Scouts that went from door to door helping elderly people evacuate the
area. It was the Boy Scouts who helped ALL people to save precious items from
homes that were going to burn. It was Cub and Boy Scouts that came after the
fires were out to fill sandbags for ALL people to use when the rains started.
The City of Laguna Beach applauded the Boy Scouts as the only
organization that was prepared to assist the way they did. The only thing
that got published in the papers was the story that the Boy Scouts removed a
gay police Explorer advisor from the program. Some priorities need to be
re-evaluated.

I have an 11 year Tenderfoot in my troop. He was near the center of the
quake when it hit. He was staying with his invalid aunt for the weekend. He
sustained a mild concussion at the start of the quake. He still checked for
gas and water leaks. He cared for his invalid aunt for five days until his
parents could get to him. He did this by himself. A brave little kid. His
mother gives full credit to being in the troop and learning to do what is
necessary. I will be putting him in for a Heroism Award of some kind. He
deserves it. This is what Scouting is about. Doing and caring for others in
time of need.

Mike Reetz, Scoutmaster, Troop 1506
American Legion Post 72, Anaheim CA
Orange County Council, BSA

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