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Eagle Court of Honor
June 2003
Making Men
Looking at the faces of the young men seated here today, I remember Jack when he first joined the troop. He
was an eager scout, wanting to learn all about the outdoors, have new adventures, and most importantly,
experience the fun of Scouts. He was not sure what to expect, but knew that it would be different.
He learned good things and not so good things. He learned some great scout skills, and learned what happens
when he wakes up the Scoutmaster before the alarm goes off. Perhaps the greatest thing he learned though was
to be a man.
Jack's career in Scouting as a youth has been an adventure. He has been on more camping trips than can be
imagined. He has camped in rainstorms so heavy that most people hid indoors. He has hiked and camped in snow
and temperatures so cold that it took 30 minutes to boil water. He learned to select campsites, set up tents,
build shelters, and all the fun things that scouts do. He has spent entire summers working at summer camps,
teaching skills to other scouts. He has spent countless hours providing service to others. Through all of
it, he has always maintained his smile, his honor and his dignity.
The new scouts sitting here, witnessing one of the older scouts are probably doing the same thing that Jack
did when Ron Fontaine received his Eagle Scout award. They are hoping that they can experience all the fun
things that he did. They are hoping to earn the merit badges that he has earned. They want to learn the cool
skills that he learned. They are dreaming of becoming an Eagle Scout one day, too.
The Boy Scouts of America is not in the business of teaching outdoor skills, lifesaving, communication,
first aid, personal management, family life, or any of the required merit badges for Eagle. The Boy Scouts
of America sole purpose is to take young men, such as the ones seated in the audience, and make them the
best men that they can be. The skills taught by the merit badges required for Eagle Scout as well as the
Eagle Project and the leadership required do just that.
When a young man completes all of them, he is not only an Eagle Scout, but he has gained all that he will
need to be the best man that he can possibly be. He is someone that other people will look up to, listen to,
and follow without question. He has the confidence in himself that will allow him to face adversity without
flinching. He will do all that he can for his fellow man without question, and ask nothing in return. He
is a man among men.
Jack Walsh is all of this.
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