Haverhill/Middleton/Chelmsford
– February 10, 2004 – State Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) commended the newest class of Eagle Scouts in Yankee Clipper Council
for being “a group of people who have found the importance of principle, dedication and commitment—principles that will never steer
you wrong.”
“Tonight, we have so many new ambassadors for the principles that make America great,” the Senator told the audience of 490 people in Wakefield last
Friday night. He said Eagles live “a life according to principle, wearing a uniform that distinguishes them.”
Referencing Abraham Lincoln, Tarr said the nation’s 16th president was the personification of leadership guided by principle. The Senator shared
Lincoln’s pre-presidential 1838 comment to the Young Men’s Lyceum that nothing outside of America could threaten the country; the
greatest threat to America is internal.
Noting Lincoln’s view on the importance of teaching young people the principles upon which this nation was built, Tarr read Lincoln’s 1838 stirring
statement, “Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defen[s]e.
Let those materials be moulded into general intelligence, sound morality, and, in particular, a reverence for the [C]onstitution
and the laws…. ”
Tarr told the audience, according to a Louis Harris poll, 94% of parents of Scouts said they felt their children would learn moral values in
Scouting; 95% of parents said they felt their children would learn self-respect; and 93% said their children would learn the value
of community service.
Given that Scouting does teach young people the principles upon which America was founded, Tarr then challenged the adults in the
audience to “do whatever we can for Scouting,” and know that, in doing so, “we did our best to perpetuate the principles of
democracy” in a turbulent world.
Friday’s banquet honored Yankee Clipper Council’s 165 newest Eagle Scouts from across the Council’s 52 towns. In the audience were
Eagle Scouts, family members, Scoutmasters, the council leadership and members of the council’s Eagle Scout Association.
As part of the requirements for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout -- Scouting’s most prestigious rank – each of the 165 young men earned at least
21 merit badges and planned, developed and gave leadership to an Eagle Scout service project representing approximately 100
volunteer hours. Less than 4 percent of all registered Scouts achieve this distinguished rank. Each of the young men being honored
earned the rank of Eagle in the year 2003.
• Glen Bauer, Troop 53 in Billerica, said, “To me, the Eagle Badge means a lot. Not
have I only learned so much from achieving this badge and many others before it, but I myself have become a much better person than
what I would have been if I wasn’t in Scouting. Eagle has already helped me in fulfilling my career. It helped me to get into the
Local 3 Bricklayers and Allied Craftsworkers Union.” His career goal is to be a mason.
• Jonathan Borland, Troop 35 in Hamilton, said, “To me, the Eagle Badge means
determination, loyalty, and leadership. An Eagle Scout can take care of himself and others. He has his priorities straight. He sets
goals which he achieves.” Borland is interested in pursuing a career in chemistry.
• Jason Durant, Troop 79 in Andover, said, “To me, the Eagle Badge means commitment,
reliability, and honor.” Durant is interested in pursuing a career as a medical examiner.
• Michael Jozsa, Troop 66 in Saugus, said, “To me, the Eagle Badge means the desire
to help others and do your best. It represents hard work, commitment, friendship, responsibility, and reverence.” Jozsa is
interested in pursuing a career in physics.
• Patrick Kelly, Troop 41, Merrimac, said, “To me, the Eagle Badge means striving for
excellence.” Kelly wants to pursue computer programming.
Each new Eagle Scout received a membership in Yankee Clipper
Council’s Eagle Scout Association. The Association is an organization of over 280 men living or working in the council area who
carry on in their adult lives the values, lessons and spirit of Scouting's highest award. The Association recognizes Eagle Scouts'
contributions to Scouting, their communities and the nation by providing a forum for fellowship, mentoring and networking, and an
opportunity to continue to enjoy the lifelong benefits of the Scouting program with the motto, "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle."
Each new Eagle Scout received an application for the Association’s Scholarship, a gift of $1,000 to be given to an exemplary Eagle Scout who will
be attending college. The scholarship will be awarded in the spring.
Boy Scouting was founded in Great Britain in 1907 by Lord Robert S. Baden-Powell. Two years later, the Boy Scouts of America was
founded on February 8, 1910 by William D. Boyce and a group of his fellow businessmen. The history of its founding begins on the
foggy streets of London, England, when Mr. Boyce lost his way. A boy offered to be of assistance, led him to his destination and,
when offered money for his help, declined, saying, "No, thank you, sir. I am a Scout. I won’t take anything for helping." Impressed
by the boy’s kindness and "good turn," Mr. Boyce met with Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts in Great Britain,
and then brought Scouting to the United States.
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