2023-17 Health Creed

This month we are starting on the Personal Fitness merit badge.  This is one of the three merit badges that will probably take you the most time as there are tracking requirements of about 3 months.  This merit badge will challenge you as you run your mile, complete your pushups, sit-ups, and or pullups.  The goal is to better your outcome each time that we have a recording day.  If we don’t treat our bodies well, they will not do well when it comes time to see how fast we can run or how many reps we can do.

Back in the 1950’s the Massachusetts State Board of Health published the following which was also included in the Scoutmaster’s Handbook during that period. It’s entitled:

Health Creed

My body is the temple of my soul, therefore,
I will keep my body clean within and without;
I will breathe pure air and I will live in the sunlight,
I will do no act that might endanger the health of others,
I will try to learn and practice the rule of healthy living,
I will work and rest and play at the right time and
in the right way, so that my mind will be strong and my
body healthy, and so that I will lead a useful life and
be an honor to my parents, to my friends, and to my country.

Let us all do our best to be physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight as we strive to keep our bodies in shape.

2023-16 Lucky Charms

This was originally published in the Scouter’s Minute in 1958 and we shared it in 2018 before we had this podcast. Here is “Lucky Charms”

(Display a collection of good luck charms, such as a horseshoe, rabbits foot, four-leaf clover, silver dollar.)

These are some of the things that people consider good luck charms. Some folks think these things keep them safe.

Now what would you think of a man who depended on his rabbit's foot when he was driving his car? Suppose he depended on his rabbit's foot to keep him safe no matter how he might drive - down the left side of the highway, without lights at night, with the motor wide open. Well, you know what would happen to him and his rabbit's foot. He'd wind up in one whing-ding of a wreck.

There's only one way to keep safe while driving a car, and that's by obeying the traffic laws. If you disobey the traffic laws, you'll wreck your car. It's that simple. And if you disobey the other laws of mankind, you'll wreck your life.

No, you don't need good luck charms to keep safe. You can keep safe by obeying the Scout Law and God's law. That's the way to be sure of a long, happy trip through life.

2023-12 The Scout Handshake

As we start on the trail of scouting, Requirement number 1 of the Scout Rank has us learning and explaining how and when to use the Scout Handshake.  The Scout Handbook says the following,” Extend your left hand to another Scout and firmly grasp them by the left hand. Made with the hand nearest to your heart, the Scout Handshake signifies friendship.”  We use the right-hand shake when greeting others outside of scouting. 

A young scout back in 1929 asked Daniel Carter Beard the question of “why do we use the left hand shake when greeting fellow scouts.” Here is Uncle Dan’s response, “By agreement of the Scout Leaders throughout the world, Boy Scouts greet Brother Scouts with a left-hand clasp. This means of greeting is also used in connection with all Scout gatherings. It is intended to have this different method serve to remind Scouts that they belong to a world-wide brotherhood and that everywhere throughout the world Scouts are following this method of extending greetings as evidence of their interest in Scouts in all parts of the world.” Pretty much the answer was; because that’s how it’s done within scouting around the world.

The story that has been passed down through time tells us the following.

“The left handshake comes to us from the Ashanti warriors whom Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, knew years ago in West Africa. He saluted them with his right hand, but the Ashanti chiefs offered their left hands and said, ‘In our land only the bravest of the brave shake hands with the left hand, because to do so we must drop our shields and our protection.’

“The Ashanti knew of Baden-Powell’s bravery for they had fought against him and with him, and were proud to offer him the left hand of bravery.”

The Scout Handshake symbolizes respect, courage, and friendship. This kind of sounds like some points of the Scout Law right?  Soon it will be time for week-long scout camps and jamborees where we may need to muster up some bravery to talk with new people we have never met.  Start by offering your left hand and introducing yourself as you create friendships within your scouting adventures.

2023-10 Don't Get Hooked

Years ago, when I was a teenager, my father took us fishing alongside the Fall River located in Ashton Idaho.  Typically, you would use a fly on this river… but for some reason we tied a spoon onto the end of the line.  I’m guessing that Dad just wanted to see if a fish would hit his go-to lure. Now, Dad was not used to fishing on swift rivers like this with rainbows and cutthroat trout, rather, he was used to ponds in Iowa with blue gills and bass. So, with spoon tied on, I clicked my button on my trusty reel and let-er rip. All of a sudden, I felt a shot through my back as I flung the fishing lure directly at myself. My only guess is that the lure snagged on the long grass behind me, causing its flight plan to change course and embed itself through my shirt and into my skin.  Dad rushed over and was successful in removing the fishing lure. Just in case you’re wondering, yes… getting treble hooks out of your back with pliers hurts really bad! 

As we look at how to remove a fishhook from your skin, I’m reminded of how we need to pass this off as we work on Second Class along with the Fishing Merit Badge.  Another story involving a fishhook… A couple of years ago we had a guest visit our troop and assist us with the fishing and fly-fishing merit badges.  He was having a hard time getting the Scouts to understand the process of how to remove a fishhook from your skin. So… he took the object lesson to the next level and purposely stuck himself with a fishhook to have one of the Scouts perform the first aid and remove it. Instantly he had everyone’s attention.  The object lesson was a huge success, and everyone still remembers how to get a fish hook out of your skin because of what they witnessed. With that being said, I highly don’t recommend doing this on purpose. 

Let’s switch gears a little.  What are some metaphorical “hooks” out there in this world that can get you into trouble?  Smoking? Drinking? Drugs? Now, think of how these items keep you away from being physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight? Many of us have someone that we know that has attempted, in the process, or has quit smoking.  The process was a very difficult and long one for the individual that I personally know.  There are a lot of people out there that struggle with smoking and are wanting to quit daily.  The struggle is real, and it’s hard.  The most successful way to quit is to not start in the first place.  

You personally may be placed in a position where you have a friend offer you something to smoke, drink or take.  What are you going to do? What are you going to say?  In reality, the choice is yours.  But, I would raise the question of why would you start doing something that so many people are trying to quit? Each time we are placed into one of these circumstances, let us remember the Scout Oath and Law. 

2023-02 Pearls of Wisdom - Quotes From Baden-Powell

This Scouter’s Minute is a redo from back before I had this podcast in 2018. This redo also seems very fitting for today, since Lord Robert Baden-Powell left this earth on January 8th, 1941, that we reflect on some of his quotes. Now, I realize that most of his quotes here do not include girls even though Baden-Powell assisted with the beginnings of the Girl Guides. That’s because this was back in the early days of the Boy Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America with only boy membership. With that being said, you could apply “girl” for most of these and they would be applicable. So, without any further ado, here are some of the awesome things that this great man said.

"We Must change boys from a 'what can I get' to a 'what can I give' attitude"

"The code of the knight is still the code of the gentleman today"

"The real way to gain happiness is to give it to others"

"In Scouting you are combating the brooding of selfishness"

"Scoutmasters deal with the individual boy rather than with the mass"

"A boy on joining wants to begin Scouting right away"

"A fisherman does not bait his hook with food he likes. He uses food the fish likes. So with boys."

"Scouting is a man's job cut down to a boy's size."

"Scouting is a game for boys under the leadership of boys under the direction of a man."

"Where is there a boy to whom the call of the wild and the open road does not appeal?"

"It is important to arrange games and competition so that all Scouts of the troop take part."

"We are not a club or a Sunday school class, but a school of the woods."

"Fun, fighting, and feeding! These are the three indispensable elements of the boy's world."

"Scoutmasters need to enter into boy's ambitions."

"A boy is supremely confident of his own power, and dislikes being treated as a child."

"Boys can see adventure in a dirty old duck puddle, and if the Scoutmaster is a boys' man he can see it, too."

"The spirit is there in every boy, it has to be discovered."

"Teach Scouts not how to get a living, but how to live."

"Can we not interpret our adult wisdom into the language of boyhood?"

"It is only when you know a boy's environment what you can know what influences to bring to bear."

"It's the spirit within, not the veneer without, that makes a man."

"It is risky to order a boy not to do something; it immediately opens to him the adventure of doing it."

"You can only get discipline in the mass by discipline in the individual."

"The Scoutmaster must be alert to check badge hunting as compared to badge earning."

"The Scout Oath and Law are our binding disciplinary force."

"A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room."

"A boy is not a sitting-down animal."

"Vigorous Scout games are the best form of physical education because most of them bring in moral education."

"A boy is naturally full of humor."

"An invaluable step in character training is to put responsibility on the individual."

"When a boy finds someone who takes an interest in him, he responds and follows."

"The sport of Scouting is to find the good in every boy and develop it."

"Success in training the boy depends largely on the Scoutmaster's own personal example."

"Correcting bad habits cannot be done by forbidding or punishment."

"Show me a poorly uniformed troop and I'll show you a poorly uniformed leader."

"The more responsibility the Scoutmaster gives his patrol leaders, the more they will respond."

"The Scoutmaster teaches boys to play the game by doing so himself."

"O God, help me to win, but in thy wisdom if thou willest me not to win, then O God, make me a good loser."

"In Scouting, a boy is encouraged to educate himself instead of being instructed."

"There is no teaching to compare with example."

"We do not want to make Scout training too soft."

"The Good Turn will educate the boy out of the groove of selfishness."

"When you want a thing done, "Don't do it yourself is a good motto for Scoutmasters."

"Loyalty is a feature in a boy's character that inspires boundless hope."

"See things from the boy's point of view."

"The boy is not governed by don't, but is led by do."

"The object of the patrol method is not so much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the boy."

"The most important object in Boy Scout training is to educate, not instruct."

"Scoutmasters need the capacity to enjoy the out-of-doors."

"If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk."

"A boy carries out suggestions more wholeheartedly when he understands their aim."

"The Scoutmaster guides the boy in the spirit of an older brother."

2022-25 Which One Do You Feed

In 2018 I shared this scouter’s minute back before I was doing this podcast. This one is entitled, “which one do you feed”. Also, with it being father’s day, this one seems very fitting for all those fathers and father figures. We wish you a very happy day today.

There once was an old Indian. His little grandson often came in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many questions that children ask. One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face.

Grandfather said, "Come, sit, tell me what has happened today."

The child sat and leaned his chin on his Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled face and the kind dark eyes, the child's anger turned to quiet tears.

The boy said, "I went to the town today with my father, to trade the furs he has collected over the past several months. I was happy to go, because father said that since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get something for me. Something that I wanted.

I was so excited to be in the trading post. I have not been there before. I looked at many things and finally found a metal knife! It was small, but good size for me, so father got it for me."

Here the boy laid his head against his grandfather's knee and became silent. The Grandfather, softly placed his hand on the boy's raven hair and said, "And then what happened?". Without lifting his head, the boy said, "I went outside to wait for father, and to admire my new knife in the sunlight. Some town boys came by and saw me, they got all around me and started saying bad things.

They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a fine knife. The largest of these boys, pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys. I dropped my knife and one of them snatched it up and they all ran away, laughing."

Here the boy's anger returned, "I hate them, I hate them all!"

The Grandfather, with eyes that had seen too much, lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boy's. Grandfather said, "Let me tell you a story."

"I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.

But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me, one is white and one is black. The White Wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But the Black Wolf is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing. Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them seek to dominate my spirit."

The boy, looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes, and asked, "Which one wins Grandfather?"

The Grandfather, smiled and said, "The one I feed."

All of us have these two types of wolves inside of us. Let us all do our best to feed the wolf that will bring us happiness, peace, and joy.

2022-24 How To Catch A Monkey

This Scouter’s Minute is one that I shared back in 2016 when I first started ScouterLife.com. This was way before I even thought of creating this podcast and having our weekly scouter’s minutes available by both audio and text. From the 1958 printing of Ideas and Stories for The Scoutmaster's Minute, this one is entitled “How To Catch A Monkey”.

Anybody here want to know how to catch a monkey? Well, I can tell you how they do it in India. They take a coconut, cut a small hole in it, and put some rice inside. Then they tie the coconut down securely and wait for the monkey.

Monkeys are greedy and selfish. I guess you could say anybody who is greedy and selfish is a monkey. Anyway, monkeys are so greedy and selfish that they fall for the coconut trick every time.

The monkey sticks his paw into the coconut to get the rice. He gets a handful -- but then he can't get his hand out of the coconut. His fist won't go through the small hole. And he's so greedy and selfish that he won't let the handful of rice go. He just waits there with his greedy fist wrapped around the rice until the men come and take him.

Well, you've got the moral to this story: Don't be greedy and selfish, or you may make a monkey of yourself.

2022-21 Quick To Be Slow

Anger is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. Especially with everything that has been going on in the news lately. However, if you find your anger turns to aggression or outbursts, you need to find healthy ways to deal with anger. One phrase that I have adopted is “be quick to be slow”. Meaning, act quickly to be slow to anger. We are taught this principle in James 1:19 of the bible. 

There are many children’s books that help us understand our anger and how we should react when angry.  Our go to book on this topic is Llama Llama Mad at Mama.  Mostly because I can relate to Llama Llama as both of us agree that shopping is not fun!  The best part about this book, It does not tell you how to handle your anger. Instead, it leaves it open for the adults and children to come to their own conclusions of how to control their emotions.  

Here are a few way to control your anger:

1. Count down from 100

2. Take slow, deep breaths

3. Go for a walk

4. Stretch

5. Play some tunes

6. Stop talking

7. Put yourself in a timeout

8. Write in your journal

9. Picture a stop sign

10. Watch or listen to something that will make you laugh

As Scouts, we could probably recite the Scout Oath or Law over and over until we diffuse our anger.  And if you are still not cooled down after that… maybe go on to recite the outdoor code a few times.  

Let us all be quick to be slow to anger as we live and practice the Scout Oath and Law each and every day.

2022-20 Take Me Out to the Ballgame

In 1908, one of the most iconic songs associated with the game of baseball was written. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. A couple of interesting facts, the writers of the song, Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, had never attended a baseball game until after they wrote the song. Jack was inspired to write the song while riding the subway and seeing a sign that read, “Baseball Today”. It was not until 1934 that we have the first record of this song being played at a high school baseball game in LA.  Later on in 1934, it was played at game 4 of the World Series. This song can be heard during Minor and Major League games in the middle of the 7th inning and the crowd usually joins in the singing.

Baseball is one of those things in life that I love. Like many of you, as a youth, I played ball.  My position was catcher. The best part about being the catcher, you usually get to keep moving during the whole game as the pitcher throws every ball or strike to your glove. My father was my little league coach, which made the experience even more memorable. Today, life has come full circle and now I coach my kid’s team. There is just something about standing on that red dirt, the smells of fresh cut grass and popcorn from the snack shack, and the sounds of the crack of a bat as the crowd cheers. Baseball is also a game that does not have a time limit. Sure, little league usually sets a time to be done and calls the game, but that is the only case. In reality, whoever has the most runs at the end of 9 innings is the winner. In the event of a tie in the 9th, we go on to extra innings to find out who the winner is and the home team always has last bats. A few years ago, at Angel Stadium, we attended a game that went into the 14th inning! That was a long game!

Life is very similar to a baseball game.  None of us has a crystal ball telling us how long we are going to be on this earth or the choices we are going to make.  We take each pitch, one at a time. Sometimes we will make choices that result in getting on base, striking out, or even hitting a home run. In life as in baseball you must play to the last out as opposed to playing until the time runs out.

In the Scout Oath and Law, we are charged to being physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. To be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.  Each one of these points are essential as each of us play our position in the epic game of baseball called life.

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don’t win, it’s a shame.
For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,
At the old ball game

2022-04 I Am A Corporal

The other day I came across this short story entitled “I am a Corporal.”

During the Revolutionary War, the soldiers were trying to raise a heavy timber which they could hardly lift from the ground.  A young corporal stood by, urging the men to lift hard, and shouting, “Now, boys, right up,” when a superior officer rode up, dismounted and lifted with the men. When the timber was in place the officer asked the corporal why he did not help “I am a corporal,” he replied. “I am George Washington,” replied the officer.

As a member of the patrol in your troop, the time may soon be yours when you are a Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, or Senior Patrol Leader.  One thing has been proven over the ages is that good leaders lead by example, not by force.   

Leading by example means you're guiding others through your behaviors and inspiring them to do the same as you. When you lead by example, you provide a path to direct others down so that everyone is working toward a common goal with the same purpose.

A leader makes it natural for people to feel like they want to do the best they can for the patrol. When you lead by example, you can accomplish this and have a troop that's full of trust, confidence and purpose.

Eventually, down the trail of life, the leadership skills you learned as a scout can be used when you decide to start a family and lead your children. You can also use your leadership skills in your career when you are an employee or a manager of employees. 

Whatever your leadership status is in life. Always remember to implement the Scout Oath and Scout Law. To help other people at all times and to be trustworthy, loyal, and helpful.

2022-03 Watch Your Mouth

During the American Revolution, George Washington issued an order against profanity. Washington could not endure the low and wicked practice in the army. He pointed out that profanity is so repulsive and unmanly among soldiers, how could a youth who uses profanity look parents, good people, and their teachers in the face without a sense of guilt and shame?

Here is Washington's order as quoted by Thayer: “ Many and frequent orders have been issued against the unmeaning and abominable custom of swearing, notwithstanding which, with much regret, the General observes that it prevails if possible, more than ever. His feelings are continually wounded by the oaths and in  imprecations of the soldiers, whenever he is in hearing of them. The name of that Being from whose bountiful goodness we are permitted to exist and enjoy the comforts of life is incessantly implicated and profaned in a manner as wanton as it is shocking. For the sake, therefore of religion, decency, and order, the General hopes and trusts that officers of every rank will use their influence and authority to check advice which is as unprincipled as it is wicked and shameful. If officers would make it an enviable rule to reprimand, and if that won't do, to punish soldiers for an offense of this kind, it would not fail of having the desired effect.”

In reference to the above order, and to quote the movie National Treasure, “People don’t talk like that way anymore.” 

I remember years ago, when I said a swear word, and my mother found out… I thought for sure that I was a goner! I am very lucky, and blessed, that my mother was one that taught me the importance of choosing good words after that incident and that I needed to change and not use profane words.  One of the things I do not envy of my teenage children, is the language they have to hear as they walk the halls to and from class at school.  Some of those teenagers that are saying those horrible words are Scouts! It was bad back in my day, and I can only imagine how much worse it is now.  It’s all around us now through music, movies, podcasts, and now even on live TV when they can’t blur out words or mute the sound fast enough on the news. 

As we practice the Scout Law, we should not only be physically Clean. But, also clean in our words.

2022-02 Hope

The year was 1957 and Dr Curt at Harvard University was preparing his subjects for a swimming experiment. The small pool was filled and the test subjects, who were classified as “Excellent Swimmers”, were placed in the water with nothing around them to hold on to.  The test, to see how long they can swim without drowning… What! You may say. Yes, the information that Dr Curt was looking for in this first part of the experiment was to see how long it would take the subjects to die after they gave up on treading water.  Now, rest at ease, these test subjects we are talking about were rats, and rats are very good swimmers.

How long do you think the first test rats were able to swim before they drowned? 45 minutes? An hour? Half an hour?... would you be surprised to learn that within 15 minutes the rats could not swim any longer and would drown.  How can an excellent swimmer like that only last 15 minutes??

Round two… The test subjects were introduced to the same environment as the first round with one exception.  As soon as Dr Curt noticed that the rats had given up and started to sink, he would rescue them, dry them off, let them rest for a minute, and then plunk them back into the pool. How long do you think the swimmers in round two lasted? Less time than the first since they were already worn out from their first swim? Longer than the first time?... would you be surprised that the rats after being placed in the water for a second time lasted 60 hours!

What made these rats swim for over 2 days? Hope! It was this same hope during the second round that caused them to continue to swim for 60 hours hoping that the hand would come down and rescue them again.

Now the last thing I would ever want to do is call anyone a rat. But we can compare this experiment to us. If things are not going as well as we want in our own lives, we can have hope that things will get better. We can hope for a brighter tomorrow. We can have hope that we will do well on the test at school. We can have hope that a family member will get better soon. Sometimes we are the one that is treading water and are in need of a helping hand to come save us. Sometimes we are the ones how are reaching out to save those who are in trouble and are starting to lose hope.

The Scout Law helps us remember that there is hope by being Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Each one of the points of the Scout Law can help us remember and assist with hope in one way or another.

2020-32 Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

This last week our troop had an amazing event happen… we had our first Eagle! This did not happen overnight but has been in the scouting incubator for 7 years.

 I’m reminded of a scene in one of my favorite musicals, 1776.  We have John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson sitting on the steps of Independence Hall in Philadelphia waiting for the chirp, chirp, chirp of an eaglet being born while playing midwives to an egg. They have just completed putting the declaration of independence on paper and are debating on which bird will represent our nation. The eagle, the dove, or… the turkey.  We see Benjamin Franklin voice his opinion towards the turkey while calling the eagle a scavenger, thief, and coward. Franklin eventually comes around to agree on the Eagle with the other two.

Tonight, we awarded you with the hours and hours of work that you, your family, your friends, and your leaders have completed along your trail to eagle. Adding a little here and a little there to your egg. And tonight, you hatched and become an Eaglet.  As a newly hatched Eaglet, there is still a lot that will need to be completed as you mature into a full-grown Eagle. Take a look at those who have been invited to sit within the Eagles Nest, there is quite a few of them that are balding, or are Bald Eagles.  The journey does not end when you receive this award but continues with you through all the days of your life while you interact and work with others around you. 

Throughout your life, continue to do your best, do your duty to God and your county, always help others, stay physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Keep the 12 points of the scout law in your back pocket. At home, school, or work; be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

2020-29 A Warped Wheel

Scouts, if you loosen five or six adjoining spokes on a bicycle wheel, it will warp out of shape so that it no longer makes a true circle. Pretty soon you're going to have a bumpy ride.

Your character is something like a bike wheel. The spokes are a series of rules that in Scouting we call the Scout Law. The points of our Scout Law are guides to help you stay straight and true. If you get loose and sloppy on any point of the Scout Law, the result will be the same as loosening the spokes on a bike wheel. Your personality will be warped and out of shape.

One way to stay true to yourself is to see that your observance of the Scout Law is always foremost in your mind.

When doubts creep in and you might consider violating one of the points of the Law, think about the warped, out of shape bike wheel and resolve to live up to the ideals of Scouting.

2020-17 "The Scout Law" According to John Wayne

I had a really cool Grandpa. He knew how to fix anything, knew how to cook anything, and also knew how to make each one of his grandkids feel like they were his favorite one. Grandpa also loved to watch John Wayne movies. Some of my absolute favorite memories are those of just sitting on the couch next to grandpa as he was watching the “Duke” take matters in his own hands and right all the wrongs in the world.

In the late 70’s, John Wayne was at a benefit dinner for the John Wayne Outpost Camp. At this dinner, he recited the Scout Law, and then smiled his characteristic smile to the audience. Those are “nice words”, he said. “Trouble is, we learn them so young we sometimes don’t get all the understanding that goes with them. I take care of that in my family. As each boy reaches Scout age, I make sure he learns the Scout Law. then I break it down for him, with a few things I have picked up in more than half a century since I learned it.”

TRUSTWORTHY

The badge of honesty. Having it lets you look at any man in the eye. Lacking it, he won't look back. Keep this one at the top of your list.

LOYAL

The very word is life itself; for without loyalty we have no love of person or country

HELPFUL

Part sharing, part caring. By helping each other, we help ourselves; not to mention mankind. Be always full of help -- the dying man's last words.

FRIENDLY

Brotherhood is part of that word. You can take it in a lot of directions - and do - but make sure and start with brotherhood.

COURTEOUS

Allow each person his human dignity; which means a lot more than saying, "Yes, ma'am" and "Thank you, sir." It reflects an attitude that later in life you wish you had honored more... earlier in life. Save yourself that problem. Do it now.

KIND

This one word would stop wars and erase hatreds. But it's like your bicycle, it's just no good unless you get out and use it.

OBEDIENT

Starts at home. Practice it in your family. Enlarge it in your friends. Share it with humanity.

CHEERFUL

Anyone can put on a happy face when the going is good. The secret is to wear it as a mask for your problems. It might surprise you how many others do the same thing.

THRIFTY

Means a lot more than putting pennies away; and it is the opposite of cheap. Common sense covers it just about as well as anything.

BRAVE

You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions of good, fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by getting out of bed every morning, going out to do a good day's work, and living the best life they know how against the law of odds. Keep the word handy every day of your life.

CLEAN

Soap and water helps a lot on the outside. But it is the inside that counts, and don't ever forget it.

REVERENT

Believe in anything that you want to believe in, but keep God at the top of it. With Him, life can be a beautiful experience. Without Him, you are just biding time.

John Wayne then thanked those at the dinner for putting his name on the outpost camp and said, “I would rather see it here than on all the theater marquess the world over.”