Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. január-június (23. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1940-02-15 / 7. szám
February 15, 1940. Page S Verhovayak Lapja Verliovay Bor Seoul Page Boy Scouts Celebrate 30th Anniversary A lireat Amerikain Aiiaiiversary Tliiä week all America is celebrating the 30th anniversary o£ the establishment of the Boy Scout Movement in America. The Movement has its enthusiastic supporters everywhere. Indeed in its three decades nearly 9,000,000 Americans have been Scouts, Cubs and leaders. Today there are over 1,330,000 boys and men actively enrolled. Now as never before, American adults are giving their time, energies and financial support to time-tested boys and girls organizations that help mold their children into types of citizens that will guarantee the continued existence of the United States along the pattern set by the nation’s founders who gave America its democratic form of government and its precious heritage, the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. • Supplementing existing organizations such as the home, church and school, the Boy Scouts engages boys’ leisure-time energies in outdoor life and activities of cultural and practical values which lead the boys to become dependable men. Bvery President of the United States since William Howard Taft has been an enthusiastic supporter of Scouting and every American who knows anything about Scouting’s beneficial program acknowledges it as worthy of continued confidence and trust. Scouting the American Way You as Scouts can have a definite share in preserving, yes advancing, what are recognized the world over as the best things in American life. You have come'into Scouting, not as in some countries where boys have no choice as to what they will or will not do. but of your own free will, voluntarily, eagerly, the American way. In your personal lives and your activities you are not regimented— more than that, you are encouraged to think things through for yourself, to make decisions, to develop initiative, to stand on your own feet. Opportunity in America today is limitless. There are more opjiortunities than there are young people willing to prepare for them. Never before has our country offered so many new frontiers as a challenge to youth. This month we observe the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Since it was first organized nearly nine million boys and men have had the benefits of Scout training. Today Scouting is recognized on the basis of its achievements as one of the institutions in American life. Again and again Scouts have proved ihe value of organized boyhood in service to the community. Again and again they have proved that Scouting definitely does help build character and train for citizenship. But it is not of our past that I wish to speak, gratifying as the record is. I would much rather look towards the future, represented by you as members of Patrols and Troops, trained in the American way. You as Scouts, by your special training, can be a force right now in the community. You need not wait until you reach voting age to make your influence felt as sturdy, loyal citizens. All about you every day are opportunities to servo and take hold as citizens, not alone through Scouting and its Civic Service Program but through church, school, grange, neighborhood and other groups. By your training as Scouts you have acquired a definite and distinctive citizenship standing in the scheme of things as they are today, which involves, not only many pleasures and privileges, but definite responsibilities. You have accepted the personal responsibility to plan your daily life and actions so as to keep yourself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. Be constantly alert for opportunities to cooperate and render service. Cultivate your capacity to understand and care about other people. Be tolerant and respect the rights of others. Develop courage, self-reliance. Be vigilant in showing by your speech and action your faith in America, your faith in God. As Scout citizens, accept your responsibility for extending among those with whom you come in contact their understanding and appreciation of the ideals of Scouting and the principles that have made us, and in my judgment will always keep us, a great democracy. The aim of the Scout Movement has been to give you personal help in the building of your character and in training yourself for citizenship, and you are called upon to serve, in the American way, as “participating citizens.” Keep the fine spirit of American reverence, tolerance and loyaliy burning in your lives as participating citizens. That spirit is the life Mood of America, guard it and live it, JAMES E. WEST Chief Scout Executive and Editor of Boys' l»ife. a Scouting Beckons All Boys When the Boy Scouts of America celebrates its 30th birthday on Thursday, February 8, all of the 1,330,000 Scouts, Cubs and Scout leaders will re-dedicate themselves to the service motive which has characterized the Movement for three decades. Scouting offers adventure, fun and achievement—attractive to all boys—through the democratic life of the Scout Troop and Patrol, as essential ingredients in its character-influencing program for the boys of America. Drawing on the rich experience of the Movement, local and national Scout leaders anticipate the opportunity to serve more boys annually. SUGGESTIONS FOR CARTOONISTS ON SCOUTING’S 30TH BIRTHDAY A figure of Columbia, representing the United States, greets a group of Scouts carrying a birthday cake with 30 candles or the words “30 years” on the side of the cake. ^ * * * * A visionary effect showing the heads of Washington and Lincoln beaming approvingly on a group of Scouts engaged in camping activities or rendering community service. * * * “The Sturdy Oak.” The seed planted in the United States in 1910 has grown to a mighty oak. The present membership—1,330,000 —might be written in the branches or if desired, the figure 9,000,- 000 may be used to indicate how many have been Scouts and leaders during the three decades. * * * “They all agreed... on Scouting.” Commencing with William Howard Taft all Presidents of the United States have been enthusiastic supporters of the Scout movement and served as Honorary Presidents of the Boy Scouts of America during their terms of office. Theodore Roosevelt, not in office when the Boy Scouts of America was established in 1910, served as its first Honorary Vice President. An editorial cartoon containing likenesses of this group of men could also indicate the passage of a generation since Scouting began in this country. * * “Outdoor America.” The Scouts of today portrayed as hiking, swimming, camping, climbing mountains, building rustic bridges or towers. In the background may be figures of the pioneers in American life—the Pilgrims, Wash ington as a surveyor or Lincoln on his raft, the old pioneers as represented by Daniel Boone and those who built the great west, represented by their covered wagons. * * * “Result of a Single Good Turn” —By helping the American traveler seeking an address in London in 1909, an unknown British Boy Scout aroused the interest of the late William D. Boyce, Chicago publisher, in Scouting and he in 1910 with others, launched the JOSEPH DARAGO Honorary President ALBERT B. ARI National Scoutmaster Boy .Scouts of America, which affected the lives of 8,808,338 American men and boys in the past thirty years. * * * “Scouting—the American Way.” The rural and the city boy—the rich boy and the poor boy—the smart boy and the average boy— the boy of parents born abroad and the boy whose forebears are old American stock—the white boy, the Negro boy, the Indian boy and the boys of ' oriental extraction—Scouting is made up of all of them. * * * “Greatest American Game”— The Game of Scouting which now is enjoyed by Cubs, Scouts and leaders—1,330,000 strong—is so diversified that there is a program that appeals to each age level. Over 300,000 adults enjoy a “second boyhood” by serving as volunteer leaders, and while they enjoy interesting experiences they are contributing to the welfare of their home community. * * * Colin H. Livingstone, first president of the Boy Scouts of America, held that post 15 years. * * * More than 6,300,000 copies of the Boy Scout Handbook have been distributed, making it one of the most widely read books. It has been estimated that each copy is read by five Scouts. * * * The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated under District of Columbia laws on February 8, 1910 and received a Federal charter on June 15, 1916. * * * An Eagle Scout ranking is often considered the equivalent of two years of college training. * * * More than 2,100 gold medals and certificates have been awarded to Boy Scouts for life saving and heroism. * * * Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Vice President of the National Council of Boy Scouts of America, continues the example set by his father, the late president, one of Scouting’s truest friends. * * * Some 40,000 Boy Scouts participated in rescue and rehabilitation in the disasterous New England hurricane of 1938. * * * Boy Scouts took prominent parts in the New York World’s Fair and the Golden Gate International Exposition at San Francisco in 1939. * * * William D. Boyce, a Chicago business man, receives credit for bringing the Boy Scout program to this country from England 34 years ago.
