Happy Flag Day

A copy of a recent letter to the editor..........

Stolen American flag

By Fishgutts, Letter to the Editor

Published: Friday, May 31, 2013 4:45 PM CDT

Dear Editor:

I serve as a Varsity Coach (like a Scoutmaster) for the Boy Scout of America in the Little Elm area and have proudly for 5 years. We are affiliated with Circle 10 Council but most Scouts in Little Elm are affiliated with Longhorn Council.

There are many great, dedicated Scout leaders in the Little Elm area!! As a fundraiser our dedicated Scouts place American Flags in front yards of Little Elm Residents homes and Little Elm businesses on certain holidays. This fundraiser sends all of our Scouts to Scout Camp each summer as well as Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, New Mexico every two to four years.

Imagine my surprise when my son was picking up his fundraising flags after the Memorial Day holiday to find one of the flags stolen. The flag was displayed at the SW corner of Walker and Woodlake for the Village of Woodlake HOA.

This theft got me to thinking, what kind of person would steal an American Flag from a Boy Scout worth about $10? I don't want to speak of this person's character as I don't know them but I will say that the American Flag means a lot to me and I want this flag returned.

The American Flag is something I grew up respecting greatly as my father served 26 years in the Air Force. My father sacrificed greatly to serve this country as well as many other great veterans in the Little Elm community. As a Cub Scout I was excited to salute the flag each meeting to show my respect. The symbol of the flag means freedom to all those living in the United States even if we don't like what they have to say or what they do. I am personally grateful for all those who have served our country.

Recently a friend of mine returned to Texas from his station in Afghanistan. As I drove away from his release ceremony, I wept for this man, his wife, his kids and all those who have left home to protect and encourage freedom throughout the world. I have felt their pain because my own father left my family for 18 months to serve abroad on an assignment the family couldn't go on. This doesn't even include the temporary duty assignments he fulfilled away from my family.

So I know military service and the American Flag mean a lot to me and it should mean a lot more to others. This is why the theft of a symbol that means so much to me has upset me so greatly. We just want our flag back!

If someone decides to have a soul and wants to return the flag, please have them contact me anonymously through the newspaper. I will gladly go where ever this flag is to return it to a Scout who respects the flag and is working his way to summer camp and Philmont.

High Adventure - So turned off by Scouting right now

I allowed my Scoutmaster (and the previous Venturing Adviser who is now the Bishop and best friends with the Scoutmaster) to manipulate me into combining High Adventure with Scout Camp with year.  I should have never let this happen!!  We have planned everything.  And because of that I am turned off by Scouting right now.  We have reinvented the wheel and it is my own fault for allowing it.  Granted, some of the stuff we have planned is going to be super fun and remind Scouts of the basics of Scouting but silly things like writing an emergency plan, emergency communication tree, etc are some of the lamest (yet important too) things out there.  Our Scout Committee (or lack there of) has been no help.  Our Bishopric was asked to fill out our Tour Plan and we ended up doing it.  So three guys, the Scoutmaster, the Varsity Coach and the Venturing Adviser, have done everything from the ground up.

Yes, the Varsity Scouts and Ventures will have High Adventure aspects to this trip.

We have picked a location that has suffered from a lot of tornadoes recently so we are also struggling with fall back plans.  And feeding 20 people with no kitchen 3 meals a day for 6 days.  And budget issues....blah, blah, blah, blah.  There are lots of little fires to fix.

This combined thing will never happen on my watch again......  I have a feeling my release though is around the corner though.

When I get home, I just want to catch my breath and do no Scouting for a month.

Great article at Accidents and Adventures

Please read Accidents and Adventures' article on not leaving the BSA.

Plain and simple, the more who leave the weaker we get.

Wood Badge - To Cut or Not to Cut

I expressed my concern about being cut to the PL who I am backup for.  She told me the chance of getting cut are slim with me as her backup.  I told her the syllabus said I am one of the first to go.  She told me very unlikely.  So sweet.  Now we just have to work on getting some participants.  Come on people!!!

LDS News Room

Interesting spin in the conversation on the new BSA Membership Standards.

Duty to God

Please read this article by Presiding Bishop Gary E. Stevenson on the morning of the BSA's big decision.  It is not about the decision though.  I have read it twice in 24 hours and I feel like I am reminded why I Scout - to do my Duty to God (no book required **wink to Eric Voluntold**)

Wood Badge

I keep getting the impress that the new Wood Badge course I am staffing will be cutting my position due to lack of participants.  I don't know why but that is a gut feeling.  I hope it isn't true but I will continue to prepare like I am going to be there!  I don't care about another set of beads.  I have plenty.  I just want to mentor, teach, instruct and to also learn myself.

Quote - Bishop Keith B. McMullin

Bishop Keith B. McMullin said, “As men and women and boys and girls do their duty to God, they feel impelled to do their duty to one another, to their family, to their church and nation, to all things entrusted to their care.” “Our Path of Duty,” Ensign, May 2010, 14.

Quote - General Douglas MacArthur

"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." - General Douglas MacArthur

Home from War

Yesterday I had the opportunity to great a friend as he returned Afghanistan   His son is one of my favorite Scouts and has grown so much that when he hugged me he had to lean over to get it.  He left for almost a year and his family moved to Utah to be near his wife's family.  They returned this weekend to great him as he is still tied to a Texas National Guard unit.

I am very proud of my friend, Mike, who served with honor and was a great example to me of his dedication and his faith.

I was really touched by this group of twins dressed like flags who were greeting their father home.

I had a flood of memories return to me as my Dad spent almost 27 years in the military and I often saw him leave our house for military assignments   His longest, 18 month, was tough for me.  Out of not embarrassing myself I won't share how it was difficult for me.  He made me promise that I would have my Eagle completed on his return and after 15 months I finally got things going.  It was close but I got it done.  As I drove home I couldn't control my emotions and I cried.  Even thinking now about it, I get a bit emotional.