Timeless Values
The Boy Scouts of America celebrated its centennial anniversary in February of this year. The largest youth organization in the United States, it has 2.8 million youth members and 1.1 million adult leaders in the programs of cub scouting, boy scouting, and venturing. Since 1910, more that 111 million have participated in the organization’s traditional programs. The organization was granted a federal charter in 1916 by an Act of Congress signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.
Today I attended the presentation of the Eagle Scout rank to Bradley Walechka of LeCenter, Minnesota. As a Civics teacher, I teach young people about the importance of citizenship, patriotism, and service to one’s community and nation. But family, friends, community, and organizations like the Boy Scouts of America are pivotal in supporting and nurturing our young men and women to become the best citizens our communities can hope for. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling them the values of the Scout Oath and Law: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.”
Annually, scouts and their leaders volunteer over 35 million hours of service to their communities through more than 75,000 service projects, meeting a wider range of needs in the areas of food, shelter, education, and environmental conservation.
Congratulations Boys Scouts of America on your 100th Anniversary Celebration. Congratulations, Bradley. Your success and your efforts give us all reason to be proud of our next generation of citizens …and our country’s future.
