From: Larry Sims (Larry.Sims@HALLIBURTON.com)
Date: Thu Aug 22 2002 - 17:26:39 CDT
I went to PSR in 1965 as a skinny young boy. When I returned from PSR I was
pretty sure that I could do almost anything. I bought a Philmont belt and
it was in constant use thru the remainder of high school, all of college,
and on into early married life. I started out on the very first notch and
hit the last notch in college. I continued to wear the belt in the last
notch for years and the notch slowly became about 1/2 inch long. Finally as
I continued to fill out the strain on the pin brazed to the buckle was too
great and it popped off. My Philmont belt which had served me on hunting
trips, in rain and snow, work and play, was finally retired with a rich
patina and many signs of constant hard use.
I went for a number of years without a Philmont belt until a young friend of
mine went on a trek. I gave him some $$ and asked him to bring me back a
belt and buckle, which I have proudly worn since.
My son and I went to Philmont this year. I didn't know if he would want a
belt, but I hoped he might get a belt just like mine. It turns out of course
that his taste in leather and buckles is different (and more expensive) than
mine. But he definitely wanted a Philmont belt and has been wearing it
proudly this summer. Some of the girls at church teased him about his big
belt buckle, but he smiled good naturedly and showed it off even more. For
him it is a symbol of accomplishment.
My old belt and the buckle without the pin now hang in a picture frame with
other bits of my favorite Boy Scout memorabilia. Old and new belts are both
a symbol of the connection I feel with Philmont Scout Ranch past and
present.
IWTGBTP
Larry Sims
718-G1 1965
609-A3 2002
>
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