SCOUT MEMORIAL AND SCOUTING VALUES

Last night I attended the Community Celebration & Memorial for Jamboree Scout leaders at the Sullivan Arena. The Memorial honored Scout leaders Ronald Bitzer, Michael LaCroix, Scott Powell, and Michael Shibe who were killed in a tragic line-of-duty accident at the National Scout Jamboree in July. These men epitomized the values of Scouting. The program was appropriate and extremely well done. The tributes by the very diverse personalities of Senator Ted Stevens, Lt. Governor Loren Leman, and Mayor Mark Begich were truly moving and a credit to their offices.

I was a Cub Scouts for a short time, but was never a Boy Scout – and I’ve always regretted that. I am proud, however, to be the father of my son Bob Lynn, Jr. who, among many other accomplishments, is an Eagle Scout.

I support the Boy Scouts and the values and lifestyle Scouting promotes. The Scout Oath states, “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” The Scout Law says, “A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.”

What, pray tell, could possibly be wrong about such ethics and values? Yet the Boy Scouts are under sustained assault by the ACLU and their fellow-travelers. Why? Because Scouts support the traditional family values espoused in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Sadly, we observe the same assault by these people on those of us who take our religion seriously.

If every man in the nation practiced the Scout Oath and Scout Law, most crime would be eliminated, families would be strengthened, and many vexing social ills would be history. God Bless Scouting.