[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 14 (Friday, February 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E125-E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 6, 2004

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Boy Scouts 
of America on their 94th anniversary. The Boy Scouts of America was 
founded on February 8, 1910 through a National Charter from Congress.
  The Boy Scout movement was founded in England by British Lord Robert 
Baden-Powell who would later author and illustrate scouting's first 
manual in 1908. The Boy Scouts of America would be founded from the 
good deeds of a British Scout.
  In an ironic twist, in 1909 Chicago publisher William Dickson Boyce 
became lost in London. He was soon approached by a boy of 12 who 
offered to guide him to the address he was seeking. Boyce offered to 
pay the boy a shilling for his help, but the boy replied, ``No Sir, I 
am a Scout. Scouts do not accept tips for good turns.''
  Later in his stay, William Dickson Boyce, and the unknown scout, went 
to British Scout headquarters to meet Baden-Powell, the founder of the 
Scouting movement. From that meeting forward, Boyce became determined 
to start Boy Scouting in America
  On February 8, 1910 Boyce filed incorporation papers for the Boy 
Scouts of America in the District of Columbia. He stated that the 
purpose of this organization ``Shall be to promote, through 
organization and cooperation

[[Page E126]]

with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves 
and others, to train them in Scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, 
courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues, using the methods which are 
in common use by Boy Scouts.''
  Today, millions of young men aged 6-18 have been involved in Cub 
Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing.
  We congratulate the Boy Scouts of America on this ``Scout Sunday'' 
for striving to instill high values and strong leadership skills in the 
young men of our nation. These men should be celebrated for their high 
ideals and dedication to their communities. We take pride in the Boy 
Scouts' hard work and commitment to civic involvement.

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