A century of honor
2/8/10 | 33 comments
Boy Scouts

A century of honor


Maine council to spend year celebrating Boy Scouts of America’s 100th anniversary
By Nok-Noi Ricker
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO
Boy Scouts past and present salute at Camp Roosevelt in Eddington in October 2009 as part of events to celebrate 100 years of Scouting in the Brewer area.

ORONO, Maine — The Boy Scouts of America organization has spent a century helping cultivate young men into strong, civic-minded citizens, and the Katahdin Area Council will spend the next year holding Scouting events designed to continue that tradition and celebrate the group’s 100th anniversary.

“We’re basically planning a yearlong celebration of the anniversary,” Gary Savignano, Scout executive for the regional council, said recently.

Scouting was pioneered in England in 1908 under the tutelage of Robert Baden-Powell, a military veteran who created a manual for his military regiment about survival that was later used by British youth. Baden-Powell rewrote the manual, removing the military segments, and called it “Scouting for Boys.” Soon afterward he kicked off the Boy Scouts.

Chicago publisher William Boyce brought Scouting to the United States after visiting London in 1909 and getting lost in the city’s famously dense fog. Luckily, he ran into a Boy Scout.

“Nearly at his wits’ end, Boyce stopped a young man and asked directions,” the Boy Scouts of America Web site states. “Not only did the youth tell Boyce how to reach his destination, he actually led Boyce there to make certain the American found his way without becoming lost again.

“Boyce, to show his gratitude, offered the youth a tip, but the youth would not accept it,” the story goes. “When asked why, the young man told Boyce he was a Boy Scout and taking a tip would negate the good deed he had done and violate his Scouting code.”

Boyce met with Baden-Powell and after returning to the U.S. incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on Feb. 8, 1910. The organization was chartered by Congress in 1916.

The Bangor area also has some century-old Boy Scout history.

Brewer’s Troop 1, originally called the Brewer Congregational Scouts, was chartered on Oct. 25, 1909, under the British Boy Scouts, predating the Boy Scouts of America by four months.

The troop still exists and joined the Boy Scouts of America in 1910, according to a 1938 Bangor Daily News article.

Katahdin District Director Tim Archer, who joined Troop 1 as an 11-year-old in 1958, said things have changed tremendously over the decades, but honor is something that is instilled in all Scouts.

“The first thing you learn as a Scout is honor thyself and be true,” he has said. “Sometimes it’s not easy. Scouting prepares you to make some of these difficult choices.”

As times have changed over the past 100 years, so have the patches that Scouts can earn. Scouts still can learn to build a fire without matches and how to tie knots, but nowadays they can also learn about cinematography and how to use a global positioning system to find where they are and where they’re going.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of skills for Scouts to learn,” Savignano said.

In Maine communities Scouts celebrated Scout Sunday this weekend to kick off the anniversary events and wore their uniforms to services at local churches and chartered partners. Scouts who did so earned the right to wear a special 100th anniversary Scout Sunday patch.

On the tentative agenda for the next year are a visit with the governor, a centennial kickoff at the University of Maine, an Eagles gathering, geocaching, a Centennial Camporee on the Bangor Waterfront, and a distinguished dinner and dance to end the year.

“The whole thing wraps up with our camporee,” Savignano said. “We expect 1,500 young folks.”

The gathering of the Eagles is planned for April 24 and is for all who have earned the rank of Eagle in the past two years.

“We’re going to bring back some of the ‘balding’ Eagles,” Greg Morin, chairman of the 100th anniversary celebration, said.

Around 50 boys earn the rank of Eagle Scout annually in the local council, he said, adding that each had to complete a project to benefit his community.

“A lot go unnoticed,” said Archer, listing cemetery cleanups and welcome-to-town signs as examples.

Scouting has played an important role in the lives of several community leaders, Savignano said, handily listing a dozen easily recognizable names. One is Cianbro President Andi Vigue, who started as a Cub Scout in the 1970s and earned the rank of Eagle in the 1980s.

“Currently I’m a Scoutmaster of the same troop, Troop 428,” Vigue said recently, adding that Troop 428 has been chartered continuously longer than any other in Maine.

Being a Scout “enabled me to be confident,” Vigue said. His father, Cianbro Chairman and CEO Peter Vigue, became interested in Scouting after being exposed to the organization three decades ago by his then-boss Chuck Cianchette.

The Portland Scout headquarters is named after Cianchette, and a dining hall at Camp Roosevelt in Eddington is named after Peter Vigue, and both have earned the BSA Silver Beaver Award for their generosity in time and efforts.

As a Scoutmaster, Andi Vigue said he is able to watch his son and his friends grow into young men.

“It’s a program that levelizes all boys,” he said. “It doesn’t matter [whether] you come from a wealthy family or a poor family. It allows exposure to a variety of things to learn and develop skills they can use later in life.”

Scouts throughout the Katahdin Area Council will hold community breakfasts to educate residents about Scouting and bottle drives to support the Celebrating the Adventure, Continuing the Journey campaign.

Those who attend Boy Scout or Maine High Adventure camps this summer will earn a special centennial patch, and a number of troops are planning live webcasts of the “Points of Light” presentation at the National Jamboree. The 10-day celebration is July 25-Aug. 4 in Fort A.P. Hill, Va.

The Katahdin Area Council serves more than 4,000 youth in six counties in eastern and northern Maine. The council provides educational programs that instill values and develop social and leadership skills and promotes physical fitness and environmental awareness, Savignano said in a statement.

“The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law,” he said.

To find out more about coming events, visit the BSA Web site, scouting.org, or the Katahdin Area Council at katahdinareabsa.org.

···

The Boy Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best

To do my duty to God and my country

and to obey the Scout Law;

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong,

mentally awake, and morally straight.

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Comments
33 comments on this item
On 2/8/10 at 12:08 AM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Let’s also not forget they continue to discriminate against homosexuals and atheist.

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On 2/8/10 at 12:09 AM, QuestionEverything wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Boy Scouts started out with the right idea. Too bad it was hijacked by the church and is now just another tool used to brainwash kids into an antiquated and highly discriminatory system of beliefs. Recruiting children for the Catholic machine. Sad.

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On 2/8/10 at 6:00 AM, huhinpi wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

As an eagle scout under the old system (merit badges and skill awards) i am very proud of growing through the cub scouts and then to the boy scouts

In the troop and pack i was in we were exposed to many things and allot of tollerence was taught. This was in CT about 15 miles east of Hartford. we had members of every race that you can find as well as faiths. matter of fact a few ended comming out as homosexual years later but to this day refuse to utter a single bad word about the boy scouts.

our meetings were held in a church it was a congregational church and they supported our troop and members like we were family many of us did not attend church other than for boy scouts and i don't feel in the slightest way brainwashed except to do the right thing. btw without the boy scouts i know many a "At risk" kids who would be in jail or worse.... say what you will they are a private organisation not pubicly funded but yet they do more for this country than 99% of the population they just do it quietly without asking for reward or praise.

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On 2/8/10 at 6:08 AM, Ladyslipper wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Kevin and Question, leave the Scouts alone. I shudder to think of the organizations that you two and your ilk would rather young boys be involved in.

.

This was a great story, a nice read. Congratulations to the BSA for their 100 year Anniversary .

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On 2/8/10 at 6:14 AM, johnnycakemtn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The Boy Scouts have nothing to do with the Catholic church. They have certain rules and regulations to follow, which is good for for everyone to have rules and regulations, if you do like it, don't join.

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On 2/8/10 at 6:37 AM, redstatepublius wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Kevin and Question would rather defend sickos and the godless than support the Boy Scouts. Tells you all you need to know about those two.

Happy Birthday Scouts!

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On 2/8/10 at 7:45 AM, Bangorian wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I was a Scout but I'm not letting my boy get anywhere near it. It has been hijacked by the Mormon Church and now serve as a default youth organization for people of that faith. It's discrimination against homesexual men is also unacceptable to me. The messages of loyalty & kindness seem to have been lost.

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On 2/8/10 at 9:48 AM, Aldin1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

To the nay-sayers of the BSA, maybe you need to do a little research first. The BSA's biggest sponsors nationally are several conservative churches which include: Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS), Methodist, Baptist, and Catholic, among others.

If you don't like the BSA's policies, all you need to do is gather enough like-minded sponsors to out-support the above organizations and the BSA will then change their policies to reflect your beliefs rather than the beliefs of it's current sponsors.

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On 2/8/10 at 9:50 AM, Scintillate wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I beg to disagree with Kevin and Question and Bangorian, just not so, I know for a fact gay boys were allowed in Scouts back in the 1950, 60s and 70s as my mother was a den leader.

My brother and I were in Scouts right into high school. We loved it and I always thought every child should have a chance to be in scouts.

However on the downside, the difference between then and now, I've noticed some changes that I disagree with one of which scouts should not be a money making business. I was completely disgusted when I heard the Scouts were hateful in nature to a lady who had some health issues and was treated in a manner that went against Scouting beliefs. We were taught to help people we were not taught to single people out and treat them poorly for any reason. We were not a business to help any one prosper, just our troop so we could help our troop and others. Scouts should not be "owned" by anyone excepts the scouts themselves.

Bangorian please direct me to where I can find information that the Morman Church owns Scouting, thank you.

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On 2/8/10 at 12:13 PM, nuwriter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's funny how closed minded Kevin and "Question" really are. It's amazing how they eat up everything the media tells them about the Boy Scouts, without having done any actual research themselves.

Show me in any Scouting material where anything is said about homosexuality. It's not mentioned, because Scouting is a youth organization that does not believe in that children are sexual beings, one way or the other.

It is also an organization that believes that exposure to religion is good for a boy. It makes no mention of the manner that faith can or should take. A boy should recognize something greater than himself. If that bothers you, than it is you who have been brainwashed.

The Boy Scouts of America is the finest youth organization in the history of the world. It trains boys to be leaders, to improve their character, citizenship and fitness. It builds self confidence, teaches tolerance and understanding, and independent thought. Scouts are more likely to graduate from college, less likely to drop out, and more likely to be good husbands and fathers. They are more likely as adults to volunteer their time to charity, more likely to be leaders in their community.

You claim to QuestionEverything, but obviously you have done very little work in actually looking for answers. You claim your opinions are facts for political gain. That is really sad.

Catholic machine? Do you have anything to back this up? Anything you want to fabricate to make that point? There are Boy Scouts of all faiths in this country: Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Taoists, Native American faiths, and many others. You say it was hijacked by the church - which one? Scouting units are also sponsored by American Legions, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, and other community groups. Did they hijack Scouting too?

The Boy Scouts have a proven 100-year history of turning young men into leaders, and Kevin and Question have an apparent history of believing everything that they are told.

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On 2/8/10 at 1:55 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Here is some proof for you nuwriter:

http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4074941.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7639174

http://stupidevil@*&#^!.com/2006/05/two_boys_kicked_out_of_boy_scouts_because_theyre_wiccan/

Those are just 3 true stories and I could post a lot more in regards to homosexuals being kicked out of the BSA. The BSA DOES NOT teach tolerance or understanding.

Posted on Advocate.com February 02, 2010

Boy Scouts Urged to End Discrimination

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/02/02/Congress_members_to_Boy_Scouts_End_Discrimination/

"""Twenty-six members of Congress sent a letter to the Boy Scouts of America on Monday urging the organization to end its policy of antigay discrimination. """"

So when 26 members of Congress send a letter to the BSA urging them to end discrimination I'm sure they are all misinformed as well.

The above is fact. Not pulled out of my backside but 100% fact. If faith does not play a role then why do they kick non-believers out? I’ll await your rebuttal if you can even come up with one.

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On 2/8/10 at 2:00 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

BDN didn't like the URL of one of the stories but if you google...

kicked out of boy scouts for being wiccan

You will find the article.

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On 2/8/10 at 2:49 PM, Aldin1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Kevin, the scout that was kicked-out for being a Wiccan had to be a mistake on the part of the scout council officials in that area. Why? Because there is a religious award available for Wiccan Scouts called the Hart & Crescent: http://www.cog.org/projects/hartcres.html

Why would there be an award for those of the Wiccan faith if it wasn't tolerated in scouting? If this scout had fought this to National, he would have probably been reinstated.

Again, as for the BSA's discrimination, it's the conservative churches of this country you and Congress should be going after. As they sponsor a majority of scouting troops and BSA National, BSA won't change it's policy until its major sponsors change it's policies. All you need to do is round-up enough sponsors to out-fund those churches and dictate what BSA does and does not do. Unfortunately, in the BSA, like in politics, money talks.

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On 2/8/10 at 2:57 PM, CrazyVet wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Scouting is one of the best organizations in the nation for our young folks.

Putting religion aside if we can - Which of the ten commandements should not be taught to our youth?

Words like Honor, Respect, Responsibility, are not only used in scouting but are an expected way of life. Self sufficiency, Nature, Survival skills, Life skills, are all taught, who has a problem with this?

Thank you to all the leaders in Scouting who donate thousands of hours, money, and themselves to Scouting and the development of these young people!

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On 2/8/10 at 3:47 PM, joesalters wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I wasn't a boy scout growing up but my son was and I helped the troup on camp outs and such and really enjoyed it and all the boys did too. My grandsons were scouts also. ITS A GREAT ORG. AND ACLU AND HIPPIES SHOULD KEEP THERE HANDS OUT OF IT.

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On 2/8/10 at 4:16 PM, nuwriter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Great sources, Kevin.

A discussion board and stupidevil@*&#^!.com. Nice that you got some real objective sources.

But you don't get it. Sexuality, homosexual or otherwise, is not a topic that is discussed in Scouting. It is left to the family.

Faith is an important part of raising a boy. If you don't believe this to be the case, take your boy elsewhere. Faith is nothing to be ashamed of, nor should it be.

But nowhere in any Scouting literature will you read anything negative about atheists or homosexuals.

The Boy Scouts of America is protected by the Constitution. I know you haven't really read it, but trust me. It's that first amendment. The BSA has beliefs that are different than yours. And the BSA is far more tolerant than you are. The freedom of association goes both ways. If you want to have nothing to do with the BSA. You have that right. Everybody wins.

You talk of tolerance of differing views. But you don't show it at all.

But for you to try to tell the BSA how to conduct itself is wrong. It's intolerant, and shows a deep lack of understanding.

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On 2/8/10 at 4:55 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 2/8/10 at 4:59 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

As for articles....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/aug99/scout05.htm

Yes, it is from 1999 but that shows how long this has been going on and proves my point.

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On 2/8/10 at 5:03 PM, QuestionEverything wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

CrazyVet, nuwriter, others - You want to talk about commandments? OK, let's start with my favorite, "Thou Shall Not Kill". Seems pretty cut and dry but apparently it's negotiable. Has there been, in the history of mankind, a broader justification for killing than killing for one god or another? There have been mountains of bodies created by people who supposedly preach this one. Nobody can violate a commandment like religious folk!

Oh well, cult membership is down and believers are dwindling, which is a relief. Better double up your donations to the collection plate - the church is going broke fast.

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On 2/8/10 at 5:10 PM, nuwriter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I didn't say anything about the 26 members of Congress, for the main reason that I put no value in it. I still don't.

26 members of congress will say anything if they think that it will get them a vote or two. They obviously aren't Constitutional scholars. That whole first amendment apparently eludes them as much as it baffles you.

And you are not listening. Not that I expect you to.

I asked you to show me anything taught to youth that in any way negatively describes atheists or homosexuals, and you quoted five websites that had nothing to do with Scouting.

The intolerant one here is you. I tolerate your limitations, your arrogance and your ignorance. I tolerate your hypocritical accusations.

You can be outspoken against the BSA all you want. You have that right.

It won't stop the BSA from positively impacting the lives of millions of young men and women. They have that right, too.

Spew your hate as much as you want. You feel better about attacking people who are doing good in the community. Good luck with that. But don't delude yourself into thinking that your actually helping anything other than your own ego.

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On 2/8/10 at 5:15 PM, nuwriter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

QuestionEverything, you want to talk about the great works that atheist governments have done.

Do you want to start with Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia or Communist China?

Murder on an industrial scale. Tens of millions of people, and that's before you get to the wars. Let's talk about progressive Eugenics, which justifies wholesale slaughter of inconvenient peoples.

That does sound "relieving".

Is there a history class that you have to sleep through before you can push a "progressive" agenda?

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On 2/8/10 at 5:19 PM, nuwriter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

" On 2/8/10 at 4:59 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:

As for articles....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/aug99/scout05.htm

Yes, it is from 1999 but that shows how long this has been going on and proves my point."

SHOCKING, selective history from a liberal. The New Jersey ruling was overruled by the US Supreme Court.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/LAW/06/28/scotus.gay.boyscouts/

Not that anyone should be surprised that you were misinformed.

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On 2/8/10 at 5:52 PM, sunrisemaine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I agree - they need to stop discriminated against gays and show that they don't represent an organization of bigotry.

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On 2/8/10 at 5:53 PM, Scintillate wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"On my honor to do my best to do my duty to God and my country to help other people at all times especially those at home." That may not be verbatim of the pledge Scouts said back in the 1960s, Being of Godly faith was not required of Scouts. In my Scout troop we had 1 Jew, 2 Catholics, 2 Baptist, and the rest had no faith listed or followed. Neither did we talk about sex or sexual preference or politics. We were kids none of that has any place in childrens group.

joesalters whats wrong with hippies? I was a Scout turned hippie and I have to tell you being a Scout helped in my hippie life, being a hippie improved on my Scout life. I can do anything , build a house, plant a garden and perserve that food, find my way through a woods, survival, should I get lost in that woods, first aid and could even sew my mama a dress after I finish fixing my car. It all helped me become a person who can do anything and the confidence to try.

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On 2/8/10 at 5:53 PM, sunrisemaine wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 2/8/10 at 6:19 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 2/8/10 at 6:51 PM, mcrafty1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

On 2/8/10 at 12:08 AM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:

Let’s also not forget they continue to discriminate against homosexuals and atheist.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes

And there you have it.

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On 2/8/10 at 7:10 PM, JD2008 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

QuestionEverything I know you quoted "Thou Shall Not Kill" but most traditional translations of the Bible feel that "Thou Shall Not Murder" is the more accurate translations. There is a huge difference between the two.

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On 2/8/10 at 7:27 PM, BobByn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Scouting is awesome!!!

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On 2/8/10 at 8:38 PM, jimbastion wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

God bless the Boy Scouts.

Tolerance is not the same as approval. The gay lobby (I have no problems with any groups or colors or whatever - but I do with their radical lobbies) wants whole hearted approval, nay, demands it. Wants to make it legally enforceable. Pure thought control. Tolerance is simple. But some things in life I just cannot approve of

The Scouts tolerate atheists and homosexuals. They just dont' want them in thier groups. I feel the same way. I tolerate them, accept them as members of society and realize all kinds of people have value in our world.

I just dont want them babysitting my kids or influencing my family.

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On 2/9/10 at 12:21 AM, joethesalesman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I was not a boy scout growing up, but my son is now. We have an unbiased view of the boys scouts going into it this year. My son loves it, and my wife & I attend as many meetings as we can. I am sickened by the "few ruin it for the many". I find the negative comments towards the BSA incredibly disrespectful to the local volunteers who give of their time and energy to these boys, to teach them a few of the basic "tools" they may need in making decisions in their lives ahead. I don't need any website addresses or media info telling me anything about being for/against the BSA - i've witnessed enough in the local Troops to know what it's about locally.

I would wager a bet that the BSA was founded by men of faith, and they were not homosexual. I would also wager a bet that a large majority of fathers on this planet would prefer their sons be instructed by heterosexual men and men of faith, rather then the opposite.

It joys me to know that your negative opinions are just a pebble in the ocean of good which is the BSA. Congratulations BSA!!!

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On 2/9/10 at 8:59 AM, sourrr wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 2/10/10 at 2:07 PM, we3beans wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I admire BSA for the good things they teach boys. However, they are discriminatory against homosexuals and atheists.

I can't understand why they feel it necessary to continue to exclude children (remember the vast majority of scouts are under 12) who may need thier help and support the most. Why are these children any less deserving to learn the 'boy scout way' than heterosexual, God fearing Christians?

And isn't it teaching discrimination (we exclude these people so it is ok for you to exclude them too)?

No, they may not 'teach' religion, but if you can't say God you aren't welcome (no substititions ie: Allah or Jehova).

No, they may not 'teach' sex, but we all know kids are seeing, hearing and knowing way more now then we did when we were kids so it IS now something that occassionally needs to be addressed at younger and younger ages.

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