Eagle Scout Master Minute

Tonight, we honor two Eagle Scouts. But what about the future?

Tomorrow morning you’ll each wake up a little tired, very happy, and an Eagle Scout. Ten years from now, you’ll wake up each morning an Eagle Scout. Every day for the rest of your lives you’ll wake up an Eagle Scout. That’s the good news. The bad news? Each morning, for the rest of your lives, you’ll wake up an Eagle Scout. You see, it’s both an honor and an obligation.

You’ll get different reactions from people you meet. Some will find out you’re an Eagle and say, “it figures”. Others will find out you’re an Eagle and make things a bit easier for you, just because you’ve been tested. You might not notice however, since challenges often seem a bit easier, because you’ve been tested. Others will make things harder for you, just because you’re an Eagle. Again, you might not notice, because you can handle challenges. You’re an Eagle. Often, however, in a room full of people, no-one will know that you’re an Eagle except for you. But that’s OK too.

What’s an Eagle worth. To the BSA, about $60.00, the cost of the Eagle Scout Award kit, Neckerchief, and Slide. To the military, about $2,200 per year, the difference between the E-1 rank, where everyone enters the military, and the E-2 rank, where Eagle Scouts enter the military. To former scouts, especially former Life Scouts, the Eagle is invaluable. We were once close to the rank, but now can never achieve it. To most other people you meet, the value of an Eagle is the value that they place on you and your friendship. So, you tell me what’s it’s worth.

In closing, I want to again remind you not to place your achievement of Eagle on a shelf to gather dust, but to take it everywhere and put it to good use. When filling out college applications or job resumes, be sure and put it down. It will open doors for you both as it has for many Eagle Scouts who have come before.

I cannot begin to tell you how very proud I am of you both.

Mr. Gnadinger

Scoutmaster