Osawatomie Should Be Proud Of Troop 106 And Eagle Scouts
On Saturday afternoon, Boy Scout Troop 106 welcomed its newest Eagle Scout when Riley McDougal reached that honor.
Jeff Walmann spoke at the Court of Honor Saturday and told that crowd that only two percent of those who begin scouting reach the rank of Eagle Scout. It’s a statistic that shows how rare this achievement is.
It’s so rare that Eagle Scouts have their own membership organization. On their web site are these words.
“The award is more than a badge. It’s a state of being. You are an Eagle Scout—never
were. You may have received the badge as a boy, but you earn it every day as a man. In the
words of the Eagle Scout Promise, you do your best each day to make your training and
example, your rank and your influence count strongly for better Scouting and for better
citizenship in your troop, in your community, and in your contacts with other people. And
to this you pledge your sacred honor.”
Riley joins former presidents like Gerald Ford, congressmen like Bill Bradley and astronauts like Neil Armstrong in earning the rank.
It’s a great achievement for a young man, something he can always hang his hat on.
And while this honor is a very rare thing, its not that rare in Osawatomie.
I talked with troop 106 scoutmaster Doug Singer after the celebration and we counted eight Eagle Scouts from troop 106 in the last 10 years.
I had the privileged to attend many of the Eagle Scout celebrations for those eight and the one thing I have been struck by is the leadership.
Osawatomie is privileged to have some great adult leadership that have stayed active for all of these years and helped bring these young men to the highest Boy Scout rank.
It’s not easy. Douglas McDougal told me Saturday that there were many times that they feared Riley would fall just short of making it through. But these leaders like Singer, Wayne Schwalm, Galen Critchfield, Walmann and Curtis Gibson and others have been there to lead these kids. They travel to camps and are active in the lives of troop 106 members. It’s a brotherhood that has paid big dividends in these boys lives.
Osawatomie should be proud of troop 106. Not only have they had numerous Eagle Scouts, they do great work in the community. The scouts are active in local events, fundraisers and volunteer work. They make a big difference in this community and should not be taken for granted.
So congratulations Riley, your a worthy recipient of this great honor and thanks troop 106 for the example you set every day.
– Editorial board
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