Scoutmaster Minute, 27 May 2025

As we are coming out of a weekend dedicated to the remembrance of those who gave their lives in defense of our Nation, we have heard one word over and over – honor: Men and women of honor, folds of honor, honor guards, and Medal of Honor, just to name a few instances. Yet, what does honor mean? Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides definitions that include words like reputation, recognition, privilege, purity, integrity for honor as a noun, and as a verb: to regard or treat someone with admiration and respect, to give special recognition to, to live up to or fulfill the terms of, or to accept as payment.

At least once a week we pledge our honor in the Scout Oath to do our best and to do our duty to God and country. We stake our reputation on consistent and tireless assistance of others, not some of the time, but all of the time. We promise to stay in shape, to exercise our minds and well as our bodies, and to uphold high moral principles. We submit our integrity on living the points of the Scout Law. We have taken a vow to do these things, with the punishment of losing something of worth -- our honor -- should we fall short.

Life passes quickly and our time on Earth is not guaranteed. When we pass, we leave legacy and reputation. We should all hope that we are remembered as being individuals worthy of honor.

On my honor, I will do my best.

Scoutmaster Minute, 20 May 2025

ARM Cuauhtémoc, a Mexican tall ship, was on 15 nation goodwill tour celebrating Mexican Independence from Spain. ARM Cuauhtémoc is a 300 ft long ship 160ft high at its tallest. It has a crew of 277 sailors to operate it.

As the ship was leaving the slip sailors were posted on booms. Unfortunately the ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. Two crew members lost their life: América Sánchez and Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos. Twenty-two other crew members were injured, three of them critically injured.

This past weekend we had the privilege of touring and sleeping on the USS Constellation in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. In comparison the USS Constellation is 199 ft long and 164 ft high it is a large tall ship. USS Constellation is 2/3 the length of the ARM Cuauhtémoc with the same mast height. While the USS Constellation has a wood hull the ARM Cuauhtémoc has a steel hull. Both of these vessels have served their countries honorably.

To be in service to your country whether you are an active duty military member or civil servant should be revered. Having a career in service to the public is a noble and worthy pursuit.

This weekend we will be raising flags at Quantico National Cemetery. We will be honoring those who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Quantico National Cemetery is their final resting place.

Please take a moment to pay respect to those who have lost their lives in service to their country.

A scout is reverent.

Scoutmaster Minute -- 13 May 2025

On this day in history, 13 May 1888, famous vaudeville performer DeWolf Hooper performs his first of many recitals of Ernest Thayer's "Casey at the Bat." 

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day; the score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play. And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same, a sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast; they thought, if only Casey could get but a whack at that – they'd put up even money, now, with Casey at the bat. 

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake, and the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake, so upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat, for there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all, and Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball; and when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred, there was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell; it rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell; it knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat, for Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place; there was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face. And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat, no stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt; five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt. Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip, defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air, and Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there. Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped—"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar, like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore. "Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand; and it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone; he stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on; he signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew; but Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said: "Strike two."

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and Echo answered "fraud!"; but one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed. They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain, and they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate; he pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate. And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go, and now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; but there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.

Now flash forward 95 years, to 13 May 1983, New York Yankees right fielder Reggie Jackson becomes the first major leaguer to strike out 2000 times. Did this notoriety define him? No. Some of you may recall that Reggie Jackson is a 14-time MLB All Star, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and MVP of two World Series. He hit 563 home runs – more than Mickey Mantle. He played on five World Series champion teams. No, striking out the most is not his legacy.

The moral of the story is that you will not succeed in everything that you do. Be prepared to strike out every once in a while, so stay humble. When you do, dust yourself off and get back in the batting order. Some people approach life as that you cannot fail if you do not attempt – yet the converse is true, you will never succeed if you do not try.

On my honor, I will do my best.

Scoutmaster Minute— May 6, 2025

We are in the time of the year where the weather is getting warmer. With the increase of temperature also increases the stress on your body and how much you are perspiring. When we go out on hikes and campouts it's easy to go into that activity dehydrated and more susceptible to a heat injury.

You are looking at a person who did just that this weekend. On the Philmont shakedown hike I came into the hike with a headache due to dehydration. I also had a HEAVY pack, weighing in at 60 lbs. This was a lot of weight for me to carry.

As we struck out on the hike I started to get very hot immediately and the headache I started the day with turned up its intensity. When we reached about .8 miles I "lost my cookies". Some of the other adult scouters offered to take some weight off my pack which helped and I tried to carry on. As we continued the alarm bells were going off in my body that the eject button on the inside of my stomach was going to get hit again. I looked at the other adults and said I have a heat injury. It's not safe for me to continue to hike.

Mr. McKinnon and I walked to the campsite where we were camping that night. I spent the next several hours hydrating, resting, and eating. Once I had appropriately hydrated and refueled I felt much better.

The hike out the next day, while much shorter, was more successful with a fully loaded pack.

Remember that it's important to hydrate before and after any outdoor activity.

Remember to Always Be Prepared.