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A good ceremony will make
a lifelong memory for a Scout |
| Eagle Scout | |||
| Voice Of The Eagle | |||
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Submitted by: Bill Taylor -
Gifford, Illinois
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| Colors
Advance SPL: I would like to welcome you to Troop 27's first Eagle Court of Honor. At this time would everyone please stand for the posting of the Colors. (Ask the audience to stand)
SPL: Audience maybe seated. Color Guard dismissed. SPL: I would like to introduce Scout #1and Scout #2, who will explain what the Scout Oath means to them. Scout #2: (Stands at attention with the Scout Sign being made) On my Honor ....... Scout #1: By giving your word, you are promising to make every effort to live by the high ideals of the Scout Oath. Your success is a measure of your honor. As a Scout, you must hold your honor sacred. Scout #2:....I will do my best .... Scout #1: You have many talents, skills, and interests. Do your best with them, and use them for good purposes. Don't be satisfied with less than your best effort even when less is required of you. Measure your achievements against your own high standards, not against the performance of others. As a Scout and through-out your life, you will have opportunities to learn and to help many people. You will also be faced with challenges that may severely test you. Use your abilities to do your very best. That is what Scouting requires. Scout #2:....To do my duty to God.... Scout #1: Your family and religious leaders teach you to know and love God and the ways in which God can be served. As a Scout, you do your duty to God by following the wisdom of those teachings in your daily life, and by respecting the rights of others to have their own religious beliefs. Scout #2: ....and my country... Scout #1: As you study our country's history, you learn about the men and women who toiled to make America great. Most contributed in quiet ways. Others sacrificed their lives for our country. All of them did their part to build the nation we have today. Help keep the United States strong by obeying it's laws. Learn about our system of government and your role as a citizen and future voter. Do all you can to help your family and neighbors live happy, productive lives. The land itself is an important part of our national heritage. Work for the conservation of our natural resources. Teach others respect for the land. Your efforts really will make a difference. Scout #2: ....and to obey the Scout Law... Scout #1: The twelve points of the Scout Law are the rules of Scouting. They are also rules you can apply to your whole life. The Scout Law sets forth ideals to live up to. By using the Scout Law as a guide, you will know you are always doing your best. Others will respect you for the way you live. Most importantly, you will respect yourself. Scout #2: ....To help other people at all times... Scout #1: There are many people who need you. Your young shoulders can help them carry their burdens. A cheerful smile and a helpful hand will make life easier for many who need assistance. By helping whenever aid is needed and by doing a Good Turn daily, you prove yourself a Scout. You are doing your part to make this a better world. Scout #2:....To keep myself physically strong .... Scout #1: Take care of your body. Protect it and develop it so that it will serve you well for an entire lifetime. That means eating nutritious foods and being active to build strength and endurance. It also means avoiding drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and any other practices that can destroy your health. Scout #2:....mentally awake .... Scout #1: Develop your mind. Strive to increase your knowledge and make the greatest use of your abilities. Be curious about the world around you. Learn all you can both in class and beyond school. With an open attitude and the willingness to ask questions, you will get the most out of your life. Scout #2:....and morally straight .... Scout #1: To be a person of strong character, guide your life with honesty, purity, and justice. Respect and defend the rights of all people. Your relationships with others should be honest and open. Be clean in your speech and actions, and faithful in your religious beliefs. The values you follow as a Scout will help you become virtuous and self-reliant. Scout #1: It is now my pleasure to introduce the Master of Ceremonies for this Court of Honor. (Give brief bio of the background of the MC) OPENING: MC: [As the Scout lights the red candle] The red of my flag is the lifeblood of brave men ready to die or worthily live for this, our country. [As the Scout lights the white candle.] The white of my flag is for purity, cleanliness of purpose, thought, word, and deed. [As the Scout lights the blue candle.] The blue of my flag is for faith and loyalty, like the eternal blue of the star-filled heavens. [As the Scout replaces the light of Scouting and removes the sheet covering the Eagle light box.] By authority vested in me as representative of the Prairielands Council and the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, I declare this Court of Honor duly convened. CANDIDATE RECOGNITION: Today we have the honor and pleasure of recognizing Eagle candidate (scouts name) for the award of Eagle Scout. The parents and Scout leaders of the Eagle Candidate whom we honor today have labored long and faithfully to develop him toward alert and participating citizenship through the Boy Scout program. Their efforts culminate this evening in the presentation of the Eagle Award. The success of these efforts, however, will only be manifest in the way this Eagle Scout himself set a social pattern for those whose lives he touches. Honor guard, please escort before this Court of Honor, Eagle candidate (scouts name), where he will be prepared to receive the highest rank conferred by the Boy Scouts of America, that of Eagle Scout. {The honor guard will escort Eagle Scout to the front of the room, near the American flag, and will leave him facing the audience.) I am the eagle: (Reader selected by candidate) Since the beginning of time, man has used me and my brothers as a symbol of royalty, authority, power, victory, and valor. My strength and courage have inspired men through the ages. Ancient man looked upon me as an inveterate enemy of serpents. They saw the battle between the sun and the clouds as battles between an eagle and a serpent. The ancient Assyrians associated me with Ashur, the great sun god. I was held in awe and worshipped for my majestic beauty. In Assyrian myths, I was a symbol of storms and lightning and the god who carried souls to Hades. In India and Babylon, I was the symbol of fire, wind and storms and the bringer of immortality. In the golden age of Greece, I was a symbol of victor and supreme spiritual energy. I was the scared bird of Zeus, the ruler of all gods. The Greeks represented me with wings outstretched holding a serpent in my claws. Thus, I represented the triumph of good over evil. In Rome, I was the symbol of Jupiter, the supreme god. The Romans saw me as the symbol of victory. As the Roman legions conquered the world, they marched under the standard of the eagle, with outstretched wings. The silver eagle as its symbol, I became the personal emblem of the Caesars, representing supreme authority. In the Middle Ages, I became the symbol of Germany. And as falconry flourished as a sport in Europe, only kings were allowed to hunt with an eagle. The rise of Christianity brought me still more honors. To the early Christians, the eagle was an icon of ascension. This was due to the strong flight of the eagle with its gaze fixed on the sun. In early icons, I was best known as the symbol of St. John the Evangelist. In the nineteenth century, French troops under Napoleon conquered Europe under the symbol of the eagle. Many French soldiers gave their lives to protect the golden eagle, which supported the French flag on the battleground. On June 20, 1782, I became the symbol of a new country. Because of my courage and beauty, I was chosen to symbolize the new United States of America. The eagle became a prominent feature of the seal of state of the new republic. From this early beginning, I have been used in many ways to symbolize the ideals of this country. Several states have the eagle on their state flags. You can find me on the coins of America from the beginning to the present day. I have a prominent place in America as in ancient Rome as a symbol of power and authority. The emblems of the President, Vice-President, several members of the President's cabinet, and most branches of the armed services center on the eagle. From the god of the Assyrians to the symbol of the Caesars to the emblem of this country, it was thus fitting that the eagle should have a part in the most momentous achievement of man. The Apollo 11 crew chose Eagle as the name for the lunar module, which was to make history. And with the words of Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong - "Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed" - man was on the moon. In 1911, following tradition as old as man himself, the Boy Scouts of America chose the eagle to symbolize the very highest in achievement. Though all of history, I have been the symbol of man's best: now the eagle is the symbol of Scouting's best. PRESENTATION: MC: In a moment, (Name of award presenter) will confer upon you the award of Eagle Scout. I am sure you will agree that some special persons should be accorded the privilege of standing with you and in some measure sharing these high honors. Honor guard, please escort the parents of the Eagle Candidate to his side. [Parents take places on each side of the Eagle candidate.] As special guest of today's Court of Honor, (Name of award presenter), will present the Eagle Award. (Introduce the presenter) PRESENTER: [He has the option of speaking informally for a few minutes about the Eagle Award or the Eagle Candidate. He concludes his speech with the following sentence.} Eagle Scout (Scouts name), it is with great distinct honor and pleasure that I present you with the Eagle Award. [The pin is passed to Eagle Scouts Mother to allow her to pin it on] MC: No one will ever know the unnumbered acts of self-sacrifice and helpfulness from the mother of this Eagle Scout which have lead us to this night. As the symbol of what this mother has made possible, the court now asks Eagle Scout to present to his mother a miniature Eagle pin. PRESENTER: Eagle Scout (scouts first name), it is customary that you give your mother and eagle kiss. PRESENTER: Your father has stood by you over the years and has offered encouragement and assistance. As the symbol of what he has contributed to your attainment of this award, the court now asks you to present him a miniature Eagle Dad tie tack. [Gives the Eagle te tack to Eagle Scout who then pins it to his father's tie.] MC: In recognition of his fathery advice and guidance along the trail to Eagle, I ask )fathers name), father, now to present his son with the Eagle Scout certificate and personal letters of congratulations. [Award presenter gives them to Eagle Scout's dad, who will then present them to Eagle Scout] MC: The court thanks (award presenter) for coming today and assisting in the presentation of the Eagle Award to Eagle Scout. The Honor Guard will now escort Mr and Mrs. (scouts parents) back to their seats at this time SPL: Eagle Scout _________, virtue of your earning the Eagle Award, you are now eligible to become a member of the National Eagle Scout Association. Your troop has enrolled you as a 10-year member in the association and I have the honor of presenting your membership to you. Fail not your fellow Eagles, for your responsibilities are now greater than before. As you go forward in life, receiving honors and awards, always remember this night when you became an Eagle Scout. [Jordy] Present the certificate to Steve. MC: I now ask ___________________ to come forward to give Eagle Scout the Eagle Charge. I would like also all the Eagle Scouts in the audience to come forward and stand with Eagle Scout as _____________gives to Charge to Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout Charge CHARGER: The foremost responsibility of an Eagle Scout is to live with honor. To an Eagle Scout, honor is the foundation of all character. He knows that "A Scout is trustworthy" is the very first point of the Scout Law for a good reason. An Eagle Scout lives honorably, not only because honor is important to him but because of the vital significance of the example he sets for other Scouts. Living honorably reflects credit on his home, his church, his troop, and his community May the white of the Eagle badge remind you to always live with honor. The second obligation of an Eagle Scout is Loyalty. A Scout is true to his family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation. His loyalty to his troop and brother Scouts makes him pitch in and carry his share of the load. All of these help to build the loyalty that means devotion to community, to country, to one 5 own ideals, and to God. Let the Blue of the Eagle badge always inspire your loyalty. The third obligation of an Eagle Scout is to be courageous. Courage has always been a quality by which men measure themselves and others. To a Scout, bravery means not only the courage to face physical danger, but also the determination to stand up for the right. Trusting in God. With faith in his fellowman, he looks forward to each day, seeking his share of the world's work to do. Let the red of the Eagle badge remind you always of courage. The fourth obligation of an Eagle Scout is to be cheerful. To remind the Eagle Scout to always wear a smile. The red, white, and blue ribbon is attached to the scroll of the Second Class Scout award, which has its ends turned up in a smile. The final responsibility of an Eagle Scout is service. The Eagle Scout extends a helping hand to those who still toil up Scouting's trail, just as others helped him in his climb to the Eagle. The performance of the daily Good Turn takes on a new meaning when enters a more adult life of continuing service to others. The Eagle stands a protector of the weak and helpless. He aids and comforts the unfortunate and oppressed. He holds the right of others while defending his own. He will always "Be Prepared" to put forth his best. You deserve much credit for having achieved Scouting's highest award. But wear your award with humility, ever mindful the Eagle Scout is looked up to as an example. May the Scout Oath and the Scout Law be your guide for tomorrow and onward. MC: If Eagle Scout parents would be seated, we will now have a few words from our newest Eagle recipient, Eagle Scout ______________. Eagle Scout: (Response by Eagle Scout). MC: ______________ would like to present Eagle Scout with a book of Congratulatory Letters. MC: At this Time, I ask _________________, Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 27 to come forward to retire the colors. SPL: Would the audience please stand.
MC: I now close this Eagle Court of Honor and invite the all members of the audience to stay and congratulate Eagle Scout and enjoy the reception that follows. Thank You for coming and have a safe drive home. |
