Re: History of the Blue & Gold

Richard,

The best short history of Blue and Gold banquets that I've run across is
in BSA's History of Cub Scouting, No. 3849, ISBN 0-8395-3849-9. The
story of the Blue and Gold originates in the depression years of the
1930s. In 1933 "Cub Leaders' Round Table" suggested Parent-Cub dinners.
Some of the first ones noted were in Milwaukee; Wilcox, Arizona; and
Michigan City, Indiana. Pack 1 of Michigan City started the tradition of
pot-lucks, but with a twist. The dads were to bring utensils made of
wood and carved, sawed or whittled by the cub and his dad. Throughout
the later years of the 1930s there were a number of father and son bean
dinners and Cub family dinners. In the early 1940s the name "Blue and
Gold Banquet started to be used and first appeared in BSA literature in
1943, although planning a family dinner had been part of Pow Wow training
for two years by then.

If I had to do a quick introduction to the history of the Blue and Gold,
I think I'd tell the Pack that the idea of a Blue and Gold Banquet is a
very special reminder about the Cub Scout motto "Do Your Best." Why?
Because when times were hard during the depression and when families were
separated during a terrible war, everyone did their best for their
families to celebrate the accomplishment of young Scouts. As then we are
proud of our Cubs because when things get tough, they always do their best.

Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman
Dep.Dist.Commissioner-Training, G.W.Dist., NCAC, BSA (Virginia)
U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area)
ftp1 or ftp2.scouter.com/usscouts E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org

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