Eagle Scout Ceremony
Andrew Foy
Andy Long
John Pavlick
Welcome and Introduction: Rudy Dismuke
Good afternoon everyone. I am Rudy Dismuke, Scoutmaster for Troop 505. On behalf of Andrew Foy, Andy Long and John Pavlick I would like to welcome each and every
one of you who have come here today to honor these fine young men.
Rudy to introduce Father John Weyer, Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church to lead prayer. (Rudy should note that St. Vincent de Paul Church sponsors Troop 505.)
Rudy: How many of you have been to an Eagle Scout Court of Honor before? A valued tenet of scouting is the belief in a Boy led troop; likewise, the Eagle ceremony is designed by the candidates to fit their style and preferences. This Court of Honor was designed and scripted by Andrew, Andy and John who have been together as scouts since they were in Cub Scout Pack 34. They made a point of joining together for this ceremony.
During their time together in Troop 505, these young men have had several different Scoutmasters involved in their scouting development as well as older scouts whom they looked up to and learned from. One of those older scouts is Steven Foy, Andrew’s brother and a Troop 505 Eagle Scout who is currently a junior at TexasA&MUniversity. Steven will lead us through the opening ceremony.
Steven Foy
Thank you, Mr. Dismuke. [any personal comment that Steven would like to make should come here]. The flag bearers for this ceremony are Matt Long, Andy’s brother, and Michael Pavlick, John’s brother. Both are Life Scouts in Troop 505. Now, would everyone please rise for the presentation of the colors.
Color Guard attention; Scouts attention. Color Guard forward march; Scouts salute. Color Guard halt; post the colors. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance.
Pledge
While we are still standing, Lauren Nance will now sing the Star Spangled Banner.
Song
Thank you, Lauren. Color Guard at ease, Scouts at ease Before turning this ceremony over to Judge Tad Halbach, Troop 505 Committee Chairman, each of the Eagle Scout candidates would like to have a family member recognize certain family members and others who have traveled to be here for this special occasion. First, my sister Amy Foy.
Amy to introduce Foy family and then introduce Becky Long, Andy Long’s sister.
Becky Long to introduce Long family and then introduce Anne Pavlick, John Pavlick’s sister.
Anne Pavlick to introduce Pavlick family and then turn the ceremony over to Troop 505 Committee Chairman Judge Tad Halbach
Tad Halbach: Thank you Anne. On behalf of Troop 505, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, our Charter Organization, and the Foy, Long and Pavlick families welcome everyone. We are very happy to see so many people here today. At this time, I would like to recognize some special people here today. In addition to Rudy Dismuke, our current Scoutmaster, the following leaders of Troop 505 [and district reps?] are here-name all present. Without the dedicated help of adult volunteers scouting would not happen. All of these individuals, and others, give generously to make scouting a leading organization.
I am going to briefly review the format of our Court of Honor. We will begin with current Troop 505 Life Scout, Erich Wolz who will lead us in the Scout Oath. Then a group of Eagle Scouts who are friends of Andrew, Andy and John will lead us in the Scout Law. The fathers of these Eagle Scout Candidates will make comments about their sons, former Troop 505 Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout Richard Schultz will present the Eagle Charge to our candidates, and we will close after our Eagle Scouts present their remarks.
Before those events, however, I would like to try to give you a sense of what a remarkable achievement these young men have accomplished. Records indicate that for every 100 boys who enter scouting:
19 will be future scout volunteers
21 will have their first contact with a church
2 will enter the clergy
8 will earn their Church award
Rarely, will one be brought before the juvenile court system
18 will develop a hobby that will last through their adult life
8 will enter a vocation that was learned through the merit badge system
1 will use his scouting skills to save his own life
1 will use his scouting skills to save the life of another, and
2 will become Eagle Scouts.
Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout requires dedication and motivation, along with personal sacrifices that are becoming increasingly rare in our society. All of these young men will tell you that being a boy scout is not considered cool among his peers; yet many of their peers are here today to help honor their achievement which is great to see. Now, I would like Erich Wolz to come up and lead us in the Scout Oath, followed by the Eagle Scouts (Name them) to lead the Scout Law.
Eric Wolz to recite the Scout Oath
Eric Wolz –The Scout Oath is a mission statement that each Scout strives to follow each day. Will every Scout present please rise and join me in the Scout Oath.
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.
Eagle Scouts to come up and lead the Scout Law-separate script.
We are planning to have a table at the front of the room decorated with a log holding 12 candles. The Scout reciting the tenet of the Scout Law will state the main tenet, such as A Scout is Trustworthy, light the candle, then read the text associated with the tenet.
Scout Law
TRUSTWORTHY
A Scout tells the truth. He keeps his promises. Honesty is part of his code of conduct. People can depend on him.
LOYAL
A Scout is true to his family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation.
HELPFUL
A Scout is concerned about other people. He does things willingly for others without pay or reward.
FRIENDLY
A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He seeks to understand others. He respects those with ideas and customs other than his own.
COURTEOUS
A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows good manners make it easier for people to get along together.
KIND
A Scout understands there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. He does not hurt or kill harmless things without reason.
OBEDIENT
A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them.
CHEERFUL
A Scout looks for the bright side of things. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.
THRIFTY
A Scout works to pay his way and to help others. He saves for unforeseen needs. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.
BRAVE
A Scout can face danger even if he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at or threaten him.
CLEAN
A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He goes around with those who believe in living by these same ideals. He helps keep his home and community clean.
REVERENT
A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.
Halbach: Thank you gentlemen. We will now see a short slide show, which covers various events in the scouting life of each of our Eagle candidates. Then each of their fathers will make a brief presentation.
Slide show with sound
Dana Foy remarks
Mike Long remarks
Frank Pavlick remarks, followed by the introduction of Richard Schultz: Andrew, Andy and John’s first Scoutmaster in Troop 505 was Richard Schultz, who will now invest the candidates in their Eagle Scout award.
Richard Schultz: thank you Frank. An Eagle candidate has from the time he is 11 and a half, or halfway through the 5th grade, until midnight prior to turning 18 to complete all of the requirements of Eagle. In a sense, it is an open book test with the book being the Scout Handbook. The Scout Handbook is one of the most widely printed and respected guides to leadership and outdoor skills on the planet. In addition to meeting the requirements laid out in the book which teach leadership, social skills, first aid and cooking, among other skills, each Scout must earn a minimum of 21 merit badges including ___Eagle required merit badges. In addition, each scout has to hold leadership positions within the Troop during their career in Scouts. Andy and John have both served as Senior Patrol Leader. Andrew served as assistant senior patrol leader. Scouts learn valuable real life lessons through these leadership roles. One of the first lessons is that they have to be organized and have plans if their leadership is to be effective. A second lesson is that very few people, especially young boys, know how, or want, to follow. Within seconds of assuming a leadership position, they quickly realize that their fellow scouts have no intention of following their leadership and often take delight in that role. The leadership tools they learn are strikingly similar to the skills that parents must learn and teach their children—wearing a uniform and other appropriate clothing, keeping the Scout House and campground clean and neat, and behaving appropriately.
Scouts may not realize it immediately, but they are also gaining useful experience in project management, negotiation and planning skills that are the core of the skills needed in business and life. Each Eagle Scout candidate must design, plan and complete a service project. This effort requires the recruitment and direction of a team of volunteers to assist in the project as part of the overall project management. Project management includes the creation of a business plan that details the projected number of hours involved in completing the project, recruiting volunteers, acquiring supplies, and then scheduling and leading the volunteers in completion of the project. Andrew Foy’s project wasto provide safe haven for bats at the Texas Nature Conservancy in Texas City. Andrew lead a large contingent of Troop 505 Scouts in the acquisition of materials and building of 17 bat houses that provide shelter for the local bat population. Andy Long’s project was the tear out and replacement of over 45 feet of boardwalk at the Houston Arboretum. John Pavlick’s project was planting trees in the esplanades along Memorial Park to beautify Houston in preparation for the city’s bid for the (which year?) Olympics. Under John’s leadership, the Scouts joined other civic groups in planting trees along the stretch of Memorial Drive that runs through Memorial Park.
The Eagle Scout candidates will now take the Eagle Scout Pledge. Gentlemen, will you please step forward. As the candidates take this pledge for the first time, will those Eagle Scouts who are present please stand and reaffirm their pledge? Please give the scout sign and repeat after me.
On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to God,
On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to my country,
I reaffirm my allegiance to the three promises of the Scout Oath,
I thoughtfully recognize and take upon myself the obligations and responsibilities
of the rank of Eagle Scout.
On my honor, I will do my best to make my training an example,
And make my rank and influence strongly count for better scouting and for better
Citizenship,
In my Troop, my Community, and in my contact with other people, regardless of race, color or creed.
To this, I pledge my sacred honor.
The Eagle Scouts in the audience may now be seated. I charge you to enter this Eagle Scout brotherhood holding ever before you, without reservation, the ideals of honor and service. By repeating the Eagle Scout Pledge before your fellow member, you have become an Eagle Scout. Though the words you used are similar to those you used when you joined scouting, today they mean more than they ever could have meant at that time, or any time in the past. When you pledged yourself on your sacred honor, using the same words which are found at the end of the Declaration of Independence, you sealed your eternal loyalty to the code of the Eagle Scout.
By the authority vested in me by the Boy scouts of America, it is my privilege and pleasure to pronounce you an Eagle Scout. May the oath you have taken remain true in your heart.
Now, Dana and Stephanie, Mike and Kathy, and Patsy and Frank please come forward. Andrew, Andy and John, will you please present your Mother and Father with their pins.
Behind every Eagle Scout is a set of parents that have worked just as hard to help their son earn his rank. Scouting is a family endeavor and everyone here should be proud of these parents for the support they have given their sons. Thank you, you may all be seated. Today in our nation’s capitol, a United States flag has flown over the CapitolBuilding in honor of each of these young men. It will be sent directly to them. If Lauren_____ would please come back up and sing God Bless America.
Song
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Eagle Scout Andrew Foy.
Andrew’s remarks
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Eagle Scout Andy Long
Andy’s remarks
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Eagle Scout John Pavlick
John’s remarks
Steven Foy to get up for the following closing remarks, after John is finished.
The parents and Troop thank you for attending this Eagle Court of Honor. As long as I can remember, a tradition of Troop 505 is attention to good cooking and lots of good food. With that in mind, we would like to invite you to stay and enjoy a celebratory dinner in honor of the accomplishment of Andrew, Andy and John. Would everyone please rise as Troop 505 Eagle Scout Spencer White leads us in the Philmont Grace.
Spencer White: For food, for raiment, for life, for opportunity, for friendship and fellowship, we thank thee O Lord.
Steven Foy: This concludes our ceremony, once again, please stay and enjoy an evening of Scouting friendship and fellowship. Steven provide information on how to process guests through the chow line.
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