From: Johnlebl@aol.com
Date: Fri Jan 24 2003 - 06:41:44 CST
In a message dated 01/23/2003 6:21:25 PM Central Standard Time,
Txnscout@aol.com writes:
> If you did not earn it, why on earth would you want to wear it? Just my
> two cents worth......
>
There are many ways to "earn" something.
I personally believe it is a bit sanctimonious for me or anybody else for
that matter to judge whether someone earned the arrowhead or belt or
neckerchief.
Many people have never been to Philmont yet have earned the belt or
neckerchief.
Let me give you an example.
When my parents saw fit to allow me to go to Philmont at age 14 in 1959,
they did so out of their love for me and a desire for me to get to do the
things I wanted to do. I really wanted to go to Philmont.
I still have and wear my 1959 issue arrowhead award which by the way was the
first year they were issued.
As a token of my appreciation, I bought my dad a Philont leather belt and I
bought my mother the neckerchief which was in vogue at the time. It was
actually a square ladies white fringed scarf with the jumping bull on it.
My dad wore the belt until it wore out. My mom wore the scarf proudly for
years and still has it.
When going through my dads personel things after his death four years ago,
hanging in the back of his closet was the almost worn out Philmont belt. He
never threw it away. I now cherish that tattered and worn belt.
I never gave it a thought that they did not earn those items because by all
standards they did even though they never got to even see Philmont.
My parents ran a family business. The peak season was in the summer and they
never took a summer vacation. The business would not allow it. However they
saw to it that I got into a Scout troop in Port Arthur, Texas Scoutmastered
by the finest Scoutmaster in the area, Einar Hansen. He toalked m dad into
letting me go to Philmont.
I think I have mentioned it before, but I have a photograph of him shaking
hands with Lord Baden Powell at a world jamboree.
Each summer our troop took an extended trip in the Scout bus out West. On
those trips the world opened up to me. Philmont was just one of them.
Yes, my parents never set foot on Philmont but they well earned the belt and
scarf.
There are many ways to earn something. I promise you that many a kid that
comes off the trail for various reasons has earned their award much more than
some of the buffon advisors I have observed.
Just don't be too quick to judge negatively. As a former teacher, I can
assure you that there are many ways to earn something.
And on the other side of the coin, I have seen many mothers earn a sons Eagle
badge. Notice I did not write "Eagle Award". There is a difference.
Let me give you another example.
Last summer at Fish Camp, I had occasion to talk to a very small Scout. He
weighed all of probably 85 pounds. He was waiting for the next available
transportation to health lodge. He wsa suffering with stomach problems. His
pack was almost as big as he was.
I never got his name and never learned if he made it back on the trail, but I
certainly hope that he also earned an arrowhead award last summer.
It was just 44 years earlier that I was at that same location as a young
Scout. I was the smallest boy on the trek and about his same size. Many had
said I wouldn't make it, but make it I did. Philmont was a giant step for me
as it is for many today.
I just hope he had an understanding advisor who awarded him his arrowhead
award no matter what the eventual outcome of his returning to the trail was.
I saw a lot of myself in that small Scout this past summer. He was there
because he WANTED to be there.
As he walked away, not only me but my daughter and her friend, a seasoned
Philmont veteran, expressed the hope that he could return to the trail so he
could "make it". Both those girls and I had a few tears of hope in our eyes.
Compassion is a must for both advisors and fellow crew members alike.
Who are we to judge?
Just remember that.
John LeBlanc
Eagle Class of 1959
Phirst Phil Ptrek 1959
PhilTrek 2002 630H2 Trek 16
My latest adventure was yesterday,
Today is not over yet!
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