LightingtheEagleTrailCeremony

SETTING:

Twolecterns,withlightsandmicrophones, Ranksymbolsareplacedonlowtablesbetweenthetwolecterns.An unlitcandleisgiventoeachboyrepresentingarank. Twelvesmallcandlesaresettoeachsideofalongtable Threelargecandlesaresetincenteroflongtable(oneislitafterthe prayer)

PARTICIPANTS

Moderator :DanielHelber EagleCandidate:FrancisHeroux Mother :VilmarieHeroux Father :BernardHeroux Speaker#1Mr.JohnBrunette GuestSpeaker:Mr.RobertLink Eagle#2Mr.KenConnor Eagle#3:Mr.MarkAldridge Scoutmaster :MrDrewSmith TenderfootScout:? SecondClassScout:? FirstClassScout :DavidTomer StarScout :JeremiahSmith LifeScout:NathanConnor EagleScout :RaySmith PledgeofAllegiance:IanFike ColorGuardAdvance:NathanConnor ScoutLaw:JoeAldridge OpeningandClosingPrayer:FatherGonyo Candles:IanFike

Lightsinchurchareonforopening
CEREMONY:

Nathan:ColorGuardadvance (Americanflag,troopflag,Goldmedallionflagbearersbringinflags,andpost) Ian:Pleasestandandjoinusinthepledgeofallegance (Ianleadsthepledge) FatherGonyo:(leadsaprayerinthankfulnesstothetroopandchurchfamiliesand communityfornurturingandhelpingallofourboys

IanFikelightscentercandleofthetriadset Mr.BrunetteandMr.Connormovetolecturn2 Dan:ToearnthehighestrankinScouting,aScoutmustspendagreatdeal oftimeandeffort.Therefore,theoccasionthatrecognizeshis accomplishmentsshouldbememorable.Tonight,weshallfollowLightthe EagletrailaswerecognizetheaccomplishmentsofFrancisHeroux. WhenaboybecomesaBoyScoutthereiswithinhimsomethingthatwe callthespiritofScouting.Thissinglelightedcandlebeforeyourepresents thatspirit.BecausethespiritofScoutingembodiestheprinciplesofthe ScoutOathandLaw,itbecomesashiningbeaconofinspiration.Alone, thislightmayseemfeeble,butwhenmultipliedbythemorethanthreeand ahalfmillionboysinScoutingaroundtheworld,itispowerfulindeed. AfteraboyentersScouting,theScoutLawthathepromisestoobeybegins toguidehislife.Onebyone,usingtheflamefromthespiritofScouting, weshalllightthesymbolsforeachpartoftheScoutLaw.Thereare12

partseachisanimportantfoundationinthebuildingofstrongcharacter. Joe(atlecturn2):Readslowly..AScoutisTrustworthy,Loyal, Helpful.Friendly,Courteous,Kind,Obedient,Cheerful,Thrifty,Brave, Clean,andReverent. (IanlightstwelvesmallcandlesastheScoutLawisread.) Tyler:Equallyimportantaretheguidinglightsthataretheprinciplesofthe ScoutOath.Thethreecandlesbeinglitrepresentthethreepartsofthe ScoutOath (ThreelargecandlesarelitbyIan) Tyler:IntheScoutOaththeyoungScoutpromisesuponhishonortodohis besttodohisduty,firsttoGodandhiscountrysecond,tootherpeople,by helpingthematalltimesandthird,tohimself,bykeepinghimself physicallystrong,mentallyawake,andmorallystraight.Youseehowthe lightfromthespiritofScoutingisnowbeginningtogrowandbecome brighter. Mr.Brunette(atlecturn2):Now,inthedistance,loomsthehazyoutlinesof Eaglesummit,flankedbythelesserpeaksthatrepresenttheStarandLife ranks.TothenewScouttheyareveryfaraway,buttheywillcomealot closerasthelightfromthespiritofScoutingcontinuestospread. TheScoutbeginsasaTenderfoot, (ScoutstandsholdingTenderfoot symbolinfrontofthelongtable) TheTenderfootbadgeisthefirstranka Scoutreceives.ItstandsatthefootoftheEagleTrail.Onceinspiredbythe spiritofScouting,hewon'tstayaTenderfootverylong.Puttingafew simpleachievementsbehindhim,hewillshortlyclimbtotherankof SecondClass. (ASecondClassScoutstandsholdingtheSecondclass

symbolbehindthelongtable.) TherequirementsforSecondClassbecomemoredifficult.AScoutmust learntobeselfsufficientintheoutdoorsandcontinuetorenderserviceto others.NowtheScoutisreadyforthechallengetoattainFirstClass. (A FirstclassScoutstandsholdingtheFirstclasssymbolbehindthelong table) Althoughtherequirementsbecomemoredifficult,hekeepsclimbing untilfinallycomesthedaywhenhetopsthefirstsummitalongtheEagle Trail.TherehereceiveshisFirstClassBadge. Mr.Aldridge(atlecturn2):AbroadfieldofmeritbadgesawaitstheFirst ClassScout.Morethan100meritbadgesguidetheScouttoexplore careers,hobbies,andcommunityinterestitems.TheScoutneedsbutatotal ofsixtoconquertheStarScoutsummit. (AStarScoutstandsholdingthe Starsymbolbehindthelongtable.)Probablyalotsoonerthanhethought possible,theScoutfindshimselfstandingonStarridge. Thus,throughleadership,service,andachievement,heconquersthefirstof threegreatpeaksalongtheEagleTrail. Thetrailtothenextsummit,LifeScoutpeak,isn'teasy.Thereisleadership todemonstrate,servicetoothers,andplentyofhardworkinmasteringfive additionalmeritbadgesandhelpingfellowScouts. (ALifeScoutstandsholdingtheLifesymbolbehindthelongtable) The highertheScoutclimbs,thefewertravelershemeetsalongthetrail.Yet therearenoimpossiblebarriersalongtheway. ThisLifeScout'sgoalcanbeachieved,butittakesrealeffort. Whilethe rankofLifeScoutisacovetedone,anddeservingtoallwhoobtainit,the EagleTraildoesnotendthereitleadsontowardahighersummit.The pathwaynarrowsandsteepensconsiderablyasitwindsalongledgesof personalachievementandmountainpasturesoftroopaccomplishment.

Milebymile,thetrailbecomesmoretrying.Manychallengesmustbe conqueredintheselastmiles.BeforethehighestsummitalongtheEagle Trailcanbecompleted,additionalmeritbadgesmustbeearned.Someof themareverydifficultandleadershipandservicetoothersarenot forgotten.OnlywiththegreatestpersistenceandcouragecantheScout gainthethrillofvictorythatcomeswhilelookingbackdownthetrail, fromtheverytopoftheEaglesummit. (AnEagleScoutstandsholdingthe Eaglesymbolbehindthelongtable Mr.Smith:EaglecandidateDanielHelber,youaretobecongratulatedfor reachingthehighestpeakoftheEagleTrailyourdiligenceandhardwork havepaidoff.Ifyou,alongwithyourmotherandfather,willcome forward,yourEagleBadgeofrankwillbepresented. (Rankbearingscouts sitdown) (Francisandparentscometoaltararea) Mr.AldridgejoinsMr.Smithatlecturn1 Mr.Aldridge(lecturn1):Sowhatisitworth,thisEaglebadge?$15in silver,$2worthofribbon,and$11.50tocraftandshiptheaward.But Daniel,whatisitreallyworthtoyou?Thinkbacktothetimewhenyou firstbecameaScout.Rememberthescoutskillsyoulearnedforeachrank. AndtherededicationtotheScoutOathandLaweachtimeyouadvanced. ThinkofyourEagleprojectandtheserviceyouhavegiventoyourtroop andtootherpeople.IsyourEaglebadgeworth$28.50? Ofcoursenot!YourEaglebadgeispriceless.Itrepresentseverythingyou havelearnedeverythingyouhavedonetobeprepared,tohelpothersandto helpyourself.SonowyoustandonthepeakofthemountainasanEagle Scout. Now,lookaheadandlooksharp.Wayoutthereinthemistisanother mountain,andtherebelowisatrailtoyourfuture.Itmaybealongtrailor

ashortone,butitleadstothatmountainfaraway.Asyouwalkdownthat trailandtheyearsrollby,weallhopethatfromtimetotime,youwillstop andlookbackonthetrailoflife,beingableandproudtosay,Ihavedone mybest. CongratulationsfromallofusonyourachievementofbecominganEagle Scout

Mr.Smith(lecturn1):YouhavemadeTroop163veryproud.Maythe qualitiesthatinspiredyoutothisachievementcontinuetoleadyouonto evengreatersuccessinyourlife. AsanEagleScout,theeyesofall Scoutingyes,theeyesoftheworld,willbeuponyou.Thetraditionsof EagleScoutarehigh.Mayyouliveuptothosetraditions,alwaysguidedby thespiritofScouting,representedbytheseblazingcandlesbeforeyou.The EagleBadgethatyouareabouttoreceiveissymbolicofthisspiritof Scouting. Mr.Smith:(Eaglebadgeispresentedtothemothertopinoncandidate's uniform.) Mrs.Heroux,pinthisEaglebadgeonyourson'schestsothattheworld mayknowthatheisaEagleScout. (MiniatureEaglebadgeisgiventotheEagleScouttopinonhismother.) Mr.Smith:EagleScoutFrancisHeroux,pinthisminiaturebadgeoveryour mother'sheartinrecognitionofherlove,encouragement,faith,andtrustin yourfuture.AsanEagleScout,mayyouneverdisappointher. (Eagleneckerchiefisgiventothefathertoplacearoundtheneckofhis son.) Mr.Smith:Placethisneckerchiefaroundyourson'snecktotelltheworld

youwillcontinuetosupporthimashegrowsintoaman. (MiniatureEaglebadgeisgiventotheEagleScouttopinonhisfather.) Mr.Smith:EagleScoutFrancisHeroux,pinthisminiaturebadgeoveryour father'sheartinrecognitionofhislove,encouragement,faith,andtrustin yourfuture. Mr.Smith:WilltheaudiencepleaseriseandgiveEagleScoutFrancis Heroux,aroundofapplause. (Parentssit,Francisstays) Mr.Smith:(TheEagleScoutchargetobereadbyScoutmasterand2 otherEagleScoutsatlecturn1) Mr.Smith:TheforemostresponsibilityofanEagleScoutistolivewith HONOR.ToanEagleScout,honoristhefoundationofallcharacter.He knowsthat"AScoutisTrustworthy"isthefirstpointoftheScoutLawfor agoodreason.AnEagleScoutliveshonorably,notonlybecausehonoris importanttohimbutbecauseofthevitalsignificanceoftheexamplehe setsforotherscouts.Livinghonorablyreflectscreditonhishome,his church,histroop,andhiscommunity.MaythewhitecoloroftheEagle badgeremindyoualwaystolivewithhonor. Mr.Aldridge:ThesecondobligationofanEagleScoutisLOYALTY.A Scoutistruetohisfamily,Scoutleaders,friends,school,andnation.His loyaltytohistroopandbrotherScoutsmakeshimpitchinandcarryhis shareoftheload.Allofthesehelptobuildtheloyaltywhichmeans devotiontocommunity,tocountry,toone'sownideals,andtoGod.Let theblueoftheEaglebadgealwaysinspireyourloyalty. Mr.Aldridge:ThethirdobligationofanEagleScoutistobe COURAGEOUS.Couragehasalwaysbeenaqualitybywhichmen measurethemselvesandothers.ToaScout,braverymeansnotonlythe

couragetofacephysicaldanger,butthedeterminationtostandupforthe right.TrustinginGod,withfaithinhisfellowman,helooksforwardto eachday,seekinghisshareoftheworld'sworktodo.Lettheredofthe Eaglebadgeremindyoualwaysofcourage. Mr.Connor:ThefourthobligationofanEagleScoutistobeCHEERFUL. ToremindtheEagleScouttoalwayswearasmile,theRed,Whiteand BlueribbonisattachedtothescrolloftheSecondClassScout,whichhas itsendsturnedupinasmile. Mr.Connor:ThefinalresponsibilityofanEagleScoutisSERVICE.The EagleScoutextendsahelpinghandtothosewhostilltoilupScouting's trail,justasothershelpedhimonhisclimbtotheEagle.Theperformance ofadailyGoodTurntakesonnewmeaningwhenheentersamoreadult lifeofcontinuingservicetoothers.TheEaglestandsasaprotectorofthe weakandhelpless.Heaidsandcomfortstheunfortunateandtheoppressed. Heupholdstherightsofotherswhiledefendinghisown.Hewillalways "BePreparedtoputforthhisbest. Mr.Smith:YoudeservemuchcreditforhavingachievedScouting'shighest award.Butwearyourawardwithhumility,evermindfulthattheEagle Scoutislookeduptoasanexample.MaytheScoutOathandScoutLawbe yourguidefortomorrowandonward. (Mr.Smith,Mr.Connor,Mr.AldridgeshakeFrancishandand congratulatehimthenmaytakeaseatinthechurch) (Mr.LinkisinvitedbyMr.Smithtogotothelecternandgivehisspeech) (FrancisisinvitedbyMr.Linktogotothelectern. (Francisreadsspeechtotheaudience)

Followingthespeech

FatherGonyo:(leadsaprayerinthankfulnesstothetroopandchurchfamiliesand communityfornurturingandhelpingallofourboys

Nathanreturnstolecturn Nathan:Wouldthecolorguardpleasecomeforward(Colorguardcomes forward) Nathan:Colorguardretirethecolors(Colorsretired) NathanorMrsH:.Therewillnowbeareceptionanddessertinthegym. PleasecomedowntothegymtocongratulateFrancisandenjoysomeof thephotoalbumsandmemorabiliaonthesidetables.