OA Eagle Court of Honor

 

Flag Ceremony & Invocation

Ken Johansen (Committee Chairman):

On behalf of Troop 508, I would like to welcome all of you to this Eagle Court of Honor. Will the color guard please present the colors?

(Color Guard: Andrew Buckner leader, Tyler Horner carries the American flag and Keith Green carries the Troop flag. Andrew moves down center aisle to the front of stage.)

Andrew Buckner:

Everyone please rise! Color Guard advance:

(Tyler carries American Flag down right aisle and Keith carries Troop flag down left aisle. They cross in front and proceed to stands.)

Post the colors! Attention! Scouts salute! Will you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Two. You may be seated. Color Guard dismissed!

(Andrew leads Tyler and Keith out center aisle.)

Ken Johansen:

The Invocation will now be given by the Reverend W. Douglas Hood, Jr., Pastor of Woodhaven Presbyterian Church.

Reverend W. Douglas Hood, Jr.

Invocation: ----

 

 

Eagle Ceremony

 

Setting: Six members of the Order of the Arrow, in Indian costumes and a ceremonial campfire. Indians enter either in silence or chanting in a low voice either from backstage or from the rear of the audience. The Indians would form with the four winds on one side, with Allowat in the center of the stage area, Kinet off to the side near the candidate.

Allowat: (Give the sign for quiet.)

I have led my braves to the summit of this mountain in a long journey from our camp to show you the rewards of your climb along the trail. When you began this trip as a young Cub Scout of the trail many years ago, you had this Mountaintop as your goal. You now have reached the summit, the realm of the Eagles. But before admitting you to this honored membership, we must first hear the story of your long climb along the trail.

Kinet: This Scout, after reaching the First Class rank, has worked diligently and has sought experts who gave him valuable counsel on many subjects. He has been given advise and encouragement along the trail by capable leaders.

Allowat: Before admitting this Scout to the realm of the Eagle, I would like to have assurance that he has been faithful in serving his troop, in giving leadership to younger Scouts, and that he is entitled to wear the wings of the Eagle. Scoutmaster Bob Harris, has your Scout met these qualifications?

Scoutmaster: Yes, he has.

Allowat: Scout Jonathan Scott Owens, you have worked to the point where you are about to become an Eagle. But, listen first to the wisdom of the winds.

East Wind: I am the spirit of the East Wind. I represent the common law, your duty to God and to country. Trustworthy, loyal, and helpful, are the qualities which a man must possess who lives by the laws and rules of this land. See that we do not lose this great blessing of a lawful land.

West Wind: As the spirit of the West Wind. I represent the law of equity, your duty to country and to others, friendly, courteous, and kind are the laws that breathe of conscience. They create the atmosphere that comes from within your heart. The desire for you always to be friend to those of all ages, young and old alike.

 

Courteous to those who pass along your trail. Cast away the harmful spirit of unfriendliness and selfishness.

South Wind: I am the spirit of the South Wind. I represent the civil law, your duty to others and to self. Obedient, cheerful and thrifty are the characteristics of civility. A life of cheerful obedience is necessary for the development of a true citizen. Obedience is something everyone has to learn -- to take orders and carry them our cheerfully. Real thrift means earning, spending wisely and saving, and to share with those less fortunate.

North Wind: I am the spirit of the North Wind, the most powerful of all. I represent the divine law. Brave, clean, reverent. To be brave is to be unselfish. To be clean in body and soul is to be pure in heart. Cast from your mind and body any evil spirit that tries to weaken or destroy the divine law, live a life of reverence. Be brave and clean.

Allowat: Through all the climb up the Scouting trail, the badges have changed as your abilities grew. But one pledge remained unchanged, the Scout Oath. Is there any reason why you as a new Eagle cannot renew this promise which you first made as a new Scout?

Jonathan: No.

Allowat: Then you will make the Scout sign and state the Scout Oath slowly and clearly.

Jonathan: (Repeats the Scout Oath slowly.)

Allowat: Scouting has been a great influence in your life. It has supplemented the effect of your home, your church and your school. You climbed through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class.

Kinet: Then additional merit badges allowed you to be a Star, while still more and harder ones found you wearing the heart of a Life Scout. More time and much harder requirements found you adding to your qualifications until now you have reached the highest rank in Scouting achievement, the Eagle.

Allowat: Without the love and guidance of understanding parents, a boy is severely handicapped. Your mother has watched you grow and develop. She has worked for you in health, nursed you in sickness, guided your thoughts and actions, and helped you in untold ways. Your father has been a strength to lean on, someone to turn to in times of trouble and for help. Your home influence will last you throughout your life. I ask your parents to stand beside you as a symbol that they will continue to help the young Eagle to grow in the qualities of leadership and citizenship which a true Eagle must have.

(The four winds escort the parents to the side of the candidate.)

Kinet: As a token of your willingness to continue your help for this young Eagle, I ask you Mrs. Owens to pin the Eagle badge on your son.

(She does so.)

Scout, you have seen how your mother plans to standby you in the future. Do you now promise to do your best as an Eagle Scout?

Jonathan: Yes.

Kinet: Then you now have the honor to pin a miniature Eagle pin on your mother.

(He does so.)

Mr. Owens, please read the letter to your son from the Chief Scout Executive and present him with the Eagle certificate and letter.

(He does so.)

Allowat: As Ceremonial Chief, I now call upon Mr. John Carmen to give the new Eagle the charge:

John Jonathan, I have the honor to give you the Eagle charge on the occasion of your reaching the highest rank in scouting. The scouts of all nations constitute one of the most wholesome and significant movements in the world's history. You have been judged by the Boy Scouts of America of being worthy of the highest rank in this great movement. All who know you rejoice in your achievement.

Your position, as you know, is one of honor and responsibility. You are a marked man. As an Eagle Scout, you have assumed a solemn obligation to do your duty to God, to country, to your fellow scouts and mankind in general. This is a great undertaking. As you live up to your obligations you bring honor to yourself and to your brother scouts.

I charge you, Jonathan, to undertake your citizenship with a solemn dedication. Be a leader, but lead only toward the best. Lift up every task you do and every office you hold to high level of service to God and to your fellow man. So live and serve that those who know you will be inspired o finer living. We have too many who use their strength and their brains to exploit others and gain selfish ends. I charge you to be among those who dedicate their skills and ability to the common good. Build America on the solid foundation of clean living, honest work, unselfish citizenship and reverence for God; and whatever others may do, you will leave behind a record of which every other Scout may be justly proud.

Jonathan, as an Eagle Scout, you become a guide to other Scouts of lower rank. You become an example in your community. Remember, your actions are now a little more conspicuous and people will expect more of you. To falter in your responsibility, would not only reflect upon you, but on your fellow eagles and all of scouting. The torch you carry is not only yours, but is ours also.

Jonathan, I challenge you to enter this Eagle brotherhood, holding ever before you, without reservation, the ideals of honor and service, by repeating the Eagle Scout Promise before your fellow members. Though the words you use are similar to those by which you joined scouting, they will mean more now than they could have meant at any time in the past. When you pledge yourself on your sacred honor, you will be sealing your eternal loyalty to the code of the Eagle Scout, with the words which closed the Declaration of Independence.

Scouts and guests please stand. (Pause.)

Eagle Scout candidate, Jonathan Scott Owens, make the scout sign and repeat after me:

I reaffirm my allegiance --- to the three promises --- of the Scout Oath --- I thoughtfully recognize --- and take upon myself --- the obligations and responsibilities --- of the rank of Eagle Scout. --- I will do my best --- to make my training an example --- my rank and my influence --- count strongly --- for better scouting --- and for better citizenship, ---in my troop --- and in my community --- and in my contacts --- with other people. --- To this pledge --- my sacred honor.

Audience, please be seated.

(When the charge is finished, the four winds step, one at a time, to the new Eagle, and each puts his right hand on the Eagle's right shoulder as he states the following:)

East Wind: Remember the common law: Trustworthy, loyal, helpful.

West Wind: Remember the law of equity: Friendly, courteous, kind.

South Wind: Remember the civil law: Obedient, cheerful, thrifty.

North Wind: Remember the divine law: The most powerful of all: Brave, clean, reverent.

 

Allowat: I now welcome you, new Eagle, to the summit of your trail. The Eagle is strong and powerful, and flies unblinking into the face of the sun. It soars high and builds on a pinnacle. You must not swerve from your duties as an Eagle.

Allowat: (Hands upraised.)

We now call upon the Great Spirit of all, for His blessing on this young man. May he ever strive to attain the nobelist and highest ideals of life. Be his strength and his guide. Cause him to follow a straight trail and to never be a reason for other Scouts to waiver from the path. Protect him for many moons to come. May the Great Master of all Scouts be with us until our trails cross again.

(The Indians now walk back from whence they came, and the Scoutmaster takes over to start the congratulations.)

 

Jay Brakefield (Jonathan's Cubmaster):

Jonathan, five years ago, as your Cubmaster, I tied your Webelos neckerchief in a square knot. This would seal your promise that you would stick with Scouting until you earned your Eagle rank. I am now here to untie the Webelos scarf, signifying that you have kept your promise.

Bob Harris (Scoutmaster):

(Present Troop Eagle Plaque.)

Would the following Adult leaders please stand and come forward?

(Jonathan thanks each one for their help on his trail to Eagle.)

Ken Johansen:

The Eagle Badge...The highest rank that a Scout can earn ...What is it worth?...Well, in dollars and cents it is worth $6.50...probably a dollar and a half in silver, twenty cents worth of ribbon, and the rest of it in manufacturing and handling costs...But, what is it really worth?

Think back to the first time when you first became a Scout. Remember the Scout skills that you learned for each rank. And the rededication to the Scout Oath and Law each time you advanced. Think of the service that you have given to your troop and to other people. Is your Eagle badge worth six fifty? Of course not. Your Eagle badge is priceless. It represents everything that you have learned, everything that you have done, to be prepared, to help others, and to help yourself. So now you stand at the peak of the mountain. An Eagle Scout...now look ahead...look sharp. Way out there in the mist is another mountain...and there below is the trail to your future. It may be a long trail, or a short one, but it leads to that mountain far away. As you walk down the trail, and as the years roll by, and you finally reach the end, we all hope that you can look back on the trail of life and be able to say, "I have done my best."

 

 

 

Would all Eagle Scouts in the audience please stand and come forward to congratulate Jonathan on attaining the rank of Eagle.

This Eagle Court of Honor stands adjourned.

Please join us for the cookout.

(Ken escorts Jonathan and his parents out the center aisle.)