Tonight, somewhere in our council, perhaps in a church basement or a community center a new Boy Scout will be standing in front of 16 candles. Behind the candles will be his Scoutmaster and his Senior Patrol Leader. Behind the new Scout will be his patrol leader.

One of the candles will already be lit – the candle representing the “Spirit of Scouting.” The senior patrol leader will use this candle to light the 12 candles representing the points of the Scout Law and then the three remaining candles representing the three points of the Scout Oath – duty to God and country; duty to others; duty to self. The new Scout will then raise his right hand in the Scout Sign and give a sacred oath…the Scout Oath for the first time.

As he says this oath he is full of anticipation about the fun and excitement that lies ahead of him in Scouting – the camping, fishing, hiking, and boating activities. His mom, watching all of this from the back of the room, and observing the older Scouts present, is full of anticipation of the young man her son will soon become in Scouting. A leader, an outdoorsman, a civic contributor are some of her aspirations for her son in Scouting. She hopes that Scouting will help keep her son out of trouble, help him finish school and go on to become a good father and good provider for his family (her grandchildren) one day.

But what did it take to give this young man the opportunity to stand before these 16 candles? It took a community organization that was willing to partner with the Boy Scouts of America in serving youths within their community. It took adult volunteers willing to serve as Scouting leaders. It took district and council volunteers to support this troop with training, summer camps, camp-o-rees and other program opportunities. And, it took parent support to help get their young person to and from Scouting activities and to assist the troop as needed. And it takes the financial resources of our United Way partners, Friends of Scouting donors and other contributors.

The whole community is invested in this young man and his first step on the Scouting trail, just as they are invested in every other Scout already on this trail, over 13,500 Scouts walking this trail in South Texas.

The first candle, the one that is always lit, the one representing the “Spirit of Scouting.” If you are a Scouting leader…that candle represents you. If you are a Scouting donor…that candle represents you. If you belong to an organization that charters a Scouting group…that candle represents you. It is only because of YOU that Scouting has the opportunity to come to life in the life of a young person. The “Spirit of Scouting” is what makes the Scout Oath and Law burn bright in the lives of our youths.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR SCOUTING!!! THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE!!!

John Beauregard
Scout Executive
February, 2007