USSSP - Baloo's Bugle

THOUGHTFUL ITEMS FOR SCOUTERS

Thanks to Scouter Jim from Bountiful, Utah, who prepares this section of Baloo for us each month. You can reach him at bobwhitejonz@juno.com or through the link to write Baloo on www.usscouts.org. CD

Cub Scout Prayer

Cub Scout Roundtable Planning Guide

We hope to serve every day,

While we work, and while we play,

Then at night we’ll safely rest,

Knowing the we’ve done our best.

To the Rescue in Utah

Scouter Jim, Great Salt Lake Council

On the evening of Friday, June 17, 2005, Brennan Hawkins, a slightly autistic 11-year-old Scout was discovered missing at the East Fork of the Bear, Boy Scout Reservation in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. He had been on a climbing wall with the friend, who had invited him to come to the Varsity Scout event, where the friend’s father was a leader. The dinner call sounded and the friend asked the Camp staff member manning the wall to help get Brennan out of the climbing harness. The young man turned away for a moment, and when he turned back, the harness was empty on the ground. It was assumed that Brennan had walked the short distance back to camp. Three hours later when Brennan could not be found the police were called in and a massive four day search was begun.

Thousand of volunteers began searching for the boy. This was not the first time a young Scout had been lost in the area. Less than a year before, Garrett Bardsley, a twelve year-old Scout disappear about 21 miles from where Brennan disappeared. Garrett has never been found. His father, Kevin Bardsley, was one of the first to volunteer to help search and comfort the Hawkins’ family. He was the one man that knew what the family was going through.

The searchers searched for several days, and hopes began to dim. Brennan was developmentally younger than his eleven-years-old, and the East Fork of the Bear River was cold and fast. Divers were brought in to search the river, just yards away from the last place Brennan had last been seen.

On Tuesday morning, June 21, Forrest Nunley, a Salt Lake City house painter, on a whim opted not to go to work, and instead test out his new ATV and help with the search. He went to the area and independently of the official search began riding and doing his own search. He wanted to test his vehicle and so he chose one of the more difficult trails in the area. After riding for some time, up and over a ten-thousand foot ridge several miles from the Scout camp, he came up on a boy standing in the middle of the trail. He had just come out of hiding by the side of the trail after some searchers on horseback had passed by him. It was Brennan Hawkins. Nunely helped Brennan out of his wet clothes and gave him all the water and food he had with him, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, beef jerky and some licorice. Besides wanting to play a game on one on the rescuer’s cell phone, all Brennan wanted was his mom. He remembered two things his father had told him if he got lost, “Stay on the trail, and avoid strangers.” He had been hiding from those trying to find him.

In a statement to the press, after Brennan was found, his family first thanked Kevin Barsley and then all those others that helped search for their son. Brennan’s mom then gave the following statement: “People say that the heavens are closed and that God no longer answers prayers. We are here to unequivocally tell you, the heavens are not closed, prayers are answered, and children came home.”

Forrest Nunley left without talking to the press. He had to be tracked down at his home in Salt Lake City for his comments. He didn’t think he was a hero; he was just in the right place at the right time.

When asked for his comments, Kevin Bardsley politely declined the interview request, saying, “Not today. Today is not a good day.”

TROOP 211, MANHATTAN!

“Mr. Chairman, this page of a New York newspaper that I am holding up, as you will see, contains a photograph of a 14-year-old Scout and nearly two columns describing how he saved the lives of six persons and dog in a blazing tenement and from sheer modesty kept the fact from his family for two weeks, when they accidentally learned about his feat. The Scout’s name is Frank Catalano, a member of an East Side Troop and it was chiefly his feeling of kindness toward animals that sent him in after the dog, and then just incidentally he dragged the six people one after another, through the smoke and flames to safety. That’s all, Mr. Chairman.”

SPEAKING OF BRAVERY

I hardly know when a more striking example of Scout courage and scorn of obstacles has reached us than the one-armed Boy Scout, Howard Rote of Vineland, New Jersey, who dove from the upper deck of a yacht and rescued a child who had fallen off a public pier. Both the Scout and the child were in danger of being crushed between the pier and the swinging yacht before the rescue could be effected. This is not the first time Rote has qualified as a lifesaver. Twice before he has saved persons from drowning, in one case rendering artificial respiration to the unconscious victim, thus doubly saving his life. Rote is an Eagle Scout. He, too, has not regarded a physical handicap as a bar to progress in Scouting. Any reason why you shouldn’t do at least as well as this scout?

—Scouting.

HE GAVE HIS ALL

Allen Daggett, 14-year-old Boy Scout from Oakland California gave his life to save his younger brother from being killed by an electric train. He regained consciousness a few moments before he died and his first question was for his brother. Upon being assured of the younger lad’s safety he smiled content. “I couldn’t have done anything else,” he said, “I’m a Scout,” and the word “Scout” was the last on his lips.

Another Scout, Thomas B. Robinson, of Camden, New Jersey, also recently made the ultimate sacrifice giving his own life to save that of another boy from drowning. His effort was successful but in the end he was himself overcome by exhaustion and never recovered consciousness. Pathetically enough it was reported later that the boy had confided to his friends the he coveted the chance to be a hero and to win the Life Saving Medal awarded by the National Court of Honor. He died as he lived—a true Scout.

—Boy’s Life.

A Leader’s Resolution

West Michigan Shores Council

I shall study my boys so that I may understand them.

I shall like my boys so that I can help them.

I shall learn – for they have much to teach me.

I shall laugh – for youth grows comfortable with laughter.

I shall give myself freely – yet I shall take, so that they may acquire the habit of giving.

I shall lead – yet I shall be aware of pushing.

I shall be a friend – for a friend is needed.

I shall warn them when my experience warrants it.

I shall listen – for a listener prevents combustion.

I shall command when actions merit it.

Lastly, I shall try to be that which I hope they think I am.

Quotations

Quotations contain the wisdom of the ages, and are a great source of inspiration for Cubmaster’s minutes, material for an advancement ceremony or an insightful addition to a Pack Meeting program cover.

Santa Clara County Council

“One of the chief duties of a Scout is to help those in distress in any possible way that he can.” - Lord Robert Baden-Powell

“No Scout can consider himself a full blown Scout until he is able to swim and to save life in the water.” – Lord Robert Baden-Powell

“No one is born brave; ability begets confidence; confidence begets courage.” – Lord Robert Baden-Powell

“The pluck required of a scout is of a very high order.” – Lord Robert Baden-Powell