Boy Scout Troop 325
Scoutmaster Minute
A Great Troop
May 30, 2006 (COH)
Larry Polyak, Scoutmaster

Once upon a time, there was a small boy who wanted to be like other boys. His mother wanted him to be like other boys too. But he wasn't. He was in a wheel chair. He couldn't walk. He had limited use of his arms, and his speech was limited as well.

She asked the Cubmaster if he could join scouts, to help make him feel more like other boys. The Cubmaster said "I don't see why not." So he joined, and although he couldn't do everything the other boys could do, he did what he could, and he did it well.

He reached Boy Scout age and the former Cubmaster was now a Scoutmaster. Could he join Boy Scouts? "I don't see why not." was the answer. He wanted to go to Summer Camp. The troop got the campsite at the bottom of the hill, on flat ground, so he could be wheeled in and out easier. He started getting merit badges, one by one. For those things that required certain physical abilities he didn't have, he was given alternate requirements. But for the most part he met the same requirements as everyone else did.

The troop had a beach outing. Surely he could not go to that, his mother thought. But the troop found a beach park that had a dune buggy style wheel chair and brought him along. The other scouts had a great time playing with it while he rested.

Many of his fellow scouts earned the Disabilites Awareness Merit Badge so that they could be more helpful to him in the troop. When they played "Steal the bacon" scouts vied for the chance to push him in his wheelchair when it was his turn.

The years went by, the troop kept getting the same summer camp spot on flat ground, and the boy kept advancing and earning merit badges. He was Troop Historian for three years, collecting pictures and creating photo albums. "Surely he couldn't be become an Eagle scout?" "I don't see why not." was the answer. His Eagle project was the collection and categorizing of a video tape library for a nursing home. At his Eagle Court of Honor as the advancement chairman prepared to give him his award, he yelled out "I DID IT!".

Wouldn't it be great to be part of such a wonderful troop? To be with a bunch of boys who can look past a physical handicap, to welcome, and even help such a scout? To have scout leaders so caring and accommodating?

Well, guess what - you are! The scout's name is Doug Benson. The Troop is Troop 325. The Scoutmaster was George Denise. Doug's Eagle Court of Honor was in the year 2000 and it was the first one that I ever attended. He, as well as the other scouts and leaders of the troop inspired me.

This troop has a great legacy - a legacy of being open to any race, creed or religion. The scoutmaster left big shoes to fill. But the scouts left big shoes to fill also. You guys should be proud to belong to such a great troop with such a great history. Always remember to welcome and help your fellow scouts: whether they be younger or older, black or white, taller or shorter, handicapped or not. We are: Troop 325!

Thanks for listening.