August 2012 – Patriotic Instruction

In 1895, 30 years after the end of the American Civil War, Alfred Rose Eldred was born.

On 21 Aug 1912 Alfred Rose Eldred became the the first Eagle Scout of the Boy Scouts of America.  50 years after the end of the Civil War.

Aim of the Scout Movement
By John L. Alexander, Boy Scouts of America

The aim of the Boy Scouts is to supplement the various existing educational agencies, and to promote the ability in boys to do things for themselves and others. It is not the aim to set up a new organization to parallel in its purposes others already established. The opportunity is afforded these organizations, however, to introduce into their programs unique features appealing to interests which are universal among boys. The method is summed up in the term Scoutcraft, and is a combination of observation, deduction, and handiness, or the ability to do things. Scoutcraft includes instruction in First Aid, Life Saving, Tracking, Signaling, Cycling, Nature Study, Seamanship, Campcraft, Woodcraft, Chivalry, Patriotism, and other subjects. This is accomplished in games and team play, and is pleasure, not work, for the boy. All that is needed is the out-of-doors, a group of boys, and a competent leader.

What Scouting Means

In all ages there have been scouts, the place of the scout being on the danger line of the army or at the outposts, protecting those of his company who confide in his care.

The army scout was the soldier who was chosen out of all the army to go out on the skirmish line.

The pioneer, who was out on the edge of the wilderness, guarding the men, women, and children in the stockade, was also a scout. Should he fall asleep, or lose control of his faculties, or fail on his watch, then the lives of the men, women, and children paid the forfeit, and the scout lost his honor.

But there have been other kinds of scouts besides war scouts and frontier scouts. They have been the men of all ages, who have gone out on new and strange adventures, and through their work have benefited the people of the earth. Thus, Columbus discovered America, the Pilgrim Fathers founded New England, the early English settlers colonized Jamestown, and the Dutch built up New York. In the same way the hardy Scotch-Irish pushed west and made a new home for the American people beyond the Alleghanies and the Rockies.

These peace scouts had to be as well prepared as any war scouts. They had to know scoutcraft. They had to know how to live in the woods, and be able to find their way anywhere, without other chart or compass than the sun and stars, besides being able to interpret the meaning of the slightest signs of the forest and the foot tracks of animals and men.

(Boy Scouts Handbook,  The First Edition, 1911)

Having found no real connection with the Civil War (as his father died early in his life, and he was raised by his mother)… One might ask what does this post have to do with a “Patriotic Instruction”?  From their founding, the Boy Scouts of America have not been a military organization (…don’t let the uniforms fool you!…  and yes, I know the first uniforms were produced at a manufacturer that produced uniforms for the U.S. Army and National Guard…)

Consider this, as a Patriotic Organization, one of our ‘many goals and purposes’ is to recognize Eagle Scouts.  Is your camp supporting this effort?

Consider also, we share a goal with the Boys Scouts of America.  Are we working to teach Patriotism to our youth?  Do you have a son, grandson, nephew, etc. who could / should be a Junior?  In what ways can you and your camp incorporate youth into your programs?