An interesting story in 4 parts
Michael A. Poretsky (MPoretsky@AOL.COM)
Thu, 2 Dec 1999 15:41:32 EST
Part 4:
=93On the way to the Jamboree we stopped at Ft. McHenry in Baltimore, MD - t=
he site of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner =96 the National Anthem o=
f the United States of America. It was an impressive visit for all.=94
=93In 1814, Francis Scott Key had just finished negotiating for the release=20=
of a friend held captive on a British warship, but was required to stay behi=
nd the British lines until after the impending British bombardment of Ft. Mc=
Henry. After the night of horrendous cannon and rocket fire =93by the dawn's=
early light=94 the =93broad stripes and bright stars=94 of the country he h=
eld so dear =93were so gallantly streaming=94 in the breeze. He was so moved=
, seeing that 15 star flag, that he started to write the Star Spangled Banne=
r on the back of an envelope and finished it later that night in Baltimore.=
=94
=93In grateful recognition of the country that has fostered the program of t=
he Boy Scouts of America, and allowed us to reach this point of passage for=20=
Binyamin today, please stand and join me in our Troop 54 tradition of singin=
g three stanzas of the Star Spangled Banner. Our Scouts will hold up our 15=20=
Star =96 and 15 stripe =96 flag that has, itself, flown over Ft. McHenry in=20=
Baltimore.=94
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The Court of Honor program folders included the text of the original four st=
anzas of the Star Bangled Banner=20
To the accompaniment of the Marine Corps Band, three stanzas were sung by al=
l of those in attendance in Montreal, Quebec. The Court of Honor was officia=
lly closed by Scout Ari Shatz of Brookline, Massachusetts, and following a C=
losing Benediction by Rabbi Avraham A. Witty, brunch was served to all.
Many people in the audience commented on how glad they were that they had co=
me to this event. Many in the audience began discussing issues in Jewish Sco=
uting, and the meaning of Scouting to their community, and their family. Int=
roductions were made between people who live in Montreal =96 yet who had not=
known of the opportunities in Jewish Scouting that existed within their own=
community.
Within two days of returning to the Boston area, Dr. Spielman began to recei=
ve telephone calls from members of the Montreal Jewish community. It now loo=
ks like this summer there will be a substantial contingent of Montreal Scout=
s =96 and adults =96 prepared to come to Camp Kunatah, operated by the Great=
er New York Councils on the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation. There is parti=
cular interest from Jewish Scouts in the French-speaking Sephardi community.=
Maybe, along with working towards their Ner Tamid, our Jewish Scouts in the=
United States should start practicing their French.
