Re: A Sad Night
John Pannell (PANNELLJ@DELPHI.COM)
Fri, 16 Dec 1994 20:50:10 -0500
I have seen my original post on a young man who turned 18 without earning
his Eagle has sparked some discussion. I'm glad to see it.
From many of the responses posted in this group and by private e-mail, I
have been given a much deserved attitude adjustment. While it is a shame
that he did not get Eagle, that in and of itself should not be the goal of
Scouting. More important than having a medal to hang on a uniform, is that
he stayed in Scouting, learned much, and served his fellow youth in the
process.
The part I left out was this: we recently have had three young men, one of
whom is a close friend of his, who have recently received their Eagle.
All three are in the 16 to 18 bracket. None actually "received" it yet, for
we are awaiting their wishes as regards a Court of Honor or other such
presentation. I'm surprised (well, not really) that _none_ of them wants
any sort of ceremony and one actually asked us if we could mail him his
medal!
I won't go into the details, but I have my own reservations (in varying
degrees) about these three new Eagles. In brief, IMO, none of them
fulfilled the "actively participate" requirement or showed leadership.
OTOH, I would have had no reservations about serving as the master of
ceremonies at an Eagle Court of Honor for the young man who aged out (so the
SM could play the part of proud father on that night).
This was the untold part of why I was saddened.
YiS,
John E. Pannell
pannellj@delphi.com
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
