Arrow of Light Ceremony

Revised 11-18-08

I am here tonight to tell you the story of Akela and of the Arrow of Light. Akela was the great and mighty chief of the e!elos tri!e. "is mother was #ind $yes and his father was Arrow of Light. Akela was a !rave warrior and a skilled hunter even as a young man. hen he !ecame a man and a great chief of his tri!e% his wisdom was known throughout the land. &eo'le from far and wide would come to seek his counsel. (hey would sit !efore the council fire. LI)"( ("$ *IR$ I call to the council fire the !oys who are here to receive the Arrow of Light award. +Carson Ro!erts% ,oah hitehead% -itchell )roneman% ,athan .arfield% -ason "ansen% /ordan .rindley% Logan -eeks% and .rian est0.

)ather here at the front so that the other .raves may look u'on you. Akela has heard of great achievements and together% we have !rought for you the reward of your deeds. "1L2 3& ("$ ARR1 4 ithin the tee'ee of many !raves this sym!ol has an honored 'lace. Its shaft is straight and true% 5ust as the 'ath you should follow throughout your life. Its ti' 'oints the way to success in all that you do. (he torches !efore you re'resent the sym!ol of the great virtues of life. (he scouts will tell us the virtues. (ell us one of the great virtues and 'ass on the 6torch7 to the ne8t scout. 9cout :1; I921- < "aving wisdom does not mean that a 'erson is smarter than others. It means that he uses what he knows to live a !etter life.

9cout :=; C13RA)$ < Courage does not mean you have no fear of danger. It means that you can face danger des'ite your fear. 9cout :>; 9$L*-C1,(R1L < 9elf-control means !eing a!le to sto' when you have had enough of something% such as eating% 'laying or even when you are working too much. 9cout :?; /39(IC$ < /ustice means !eing fair with others that we 'lay and work with% regardless of who they are. 9cout :@; *AI(" < *aith is the !elief in )od and things we cannot see !ut know are true. 9cout :A; "1&$ < "o'e means to look forward to good things you !elieve will ha''en. Bou ho'e for good things tomorrow% !ut at the same time% you work hard today to make them ha''en. 9cout :C; L1D$ < (here are many kinds of

love. Love of family% home% fellowman% )od and country. $very kind of love is im'ortant for a full and ha''y life. Bou will find that if you live !y these seven virtues% you shall flourish. And now that you have earned the Arrow of Light% let it shine forth from you. Bou must 'romise to set an e8am'le for others who follow in your footste's. +)esturing over the 'ack0 ,ow as you 're'are to move on in your Euest for the $agle rank% !ehold this ceremonial Arrow of Light. (his arrow that I will 'resent to you is very s'ecial. $ach one is handmade% 5ust like you are. $ach one is similar yet very different% 5ust like you are. (here is a secret meaning to the arrow that I wish to share with you now. (he shaft if made of wood to remind us of the trees in the forest% the grass% the water% and mother earth < she is so very 'recious. It is our res'onsi!ility to care for her and to 'ass her along for future

generations. (he fletching of the arrow is made of feathers to remind us of the winged creatures% as well as the =-legged and ?-legged animals that walk on this earth. All these things are 'recious in )odFs eyes and we must res'ect them. (he ti' of the arrow is made of stoneG it is shar' and comes to a 'oint. It reminds us that sometimes in life things will !e hard. .ut if we are honest with others and ourselves and weFre true in our dealings% all o four righteous efforts will com!ine for our own good. As I call your name% 'lease have your 'arents come stand !ehind you as you acce't this highest honor. *or you see% without your 'arents hel'% understanding and guidance% this award would not !e 'ossi!le. I 'resent you the Arrow of Light% Cu! 9coutingFs highest award. Congratulations4

+(he 'arent will stay where they are0 Bou are !laHing a trail onward and u'ward to your $agle% therefore we have for you a walking stick to stay on the $agle trail. +&ass out walking sticks0 *rom this day forward% when you meet a fellow 9cout% you will e8tend your left hand. It is the Indian way and it is the 9couting way% !ecause this is the hand% which is closest to the heart. Again congratulations to each of you4 .efore you leave 'lease come to the tee'ee and 'lace your hand along with all the others who have received the Arrow of Light award.