[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E206-E207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 2010

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate 
the

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100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Established on February 
8, 1910, the Boy Scouts have provided a positive influence for millions 
of young men throughout the country and have instilled in them the 
twelve key pillars contained in the Scout Law, which reads: A Scout is 
trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, 
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Over the past 100 years, 
we've all known family, friends, and neighbors involved in the Boy 
Scouts who took these building blocks of leadership to heart and made 
their communities a safer and better place. The Boy Scout program has 
reminded the American people of the higher notions of patriotism and 
good citizenship. With a range of former Boy Scouts such as Buzz 
Aldrin, Bill Gates, Tommy Lasorda, and Gerald Ford, this program has 
served to structure the lives of some of our greatest countrymen.
  I want to personally congratulate the two Boy Scout Councils in my 
district, the Northern New Jersey Council and the Patriots Path 
Council, on this very special anniversary. The dedicated Scout leaders 
who are involved in these programs have introduced Scouts in New Jersey 
to exciting explorations and taught them new skills that they will use 
throughout their life. They have recounted stories of Native American 
folklore around campfires, taught Scouts the uses of a taut-line hitch 
and bowline knot, and have provided the Scouts with an opportunity to 
take on responsibilities and duties to further their maturity into 
adulthood. There are few greater chances for aiding our country than to 
help these young men in their efforts to make themselves physically 
strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
  The Boy Scouts of America owes its tremendous history and over two 
million Eagle Scouts to an unknown English Scout who helped an American 
newspaper publisher cross a street in London. That newspaper publisher 
was so impressed by the Scout's willingness to help that he would later 
go on to found the Boy Scouts of America. Today, the Boy Scouts of 
America embrace the social and personal virtues needed in mankind and 
provide countless opportunities for their Scouts to better our world as 
a whole. With their example in mind, I hope all Americans will use this 
opportunity to help a neighbor, volunteer in his or her community, 
explore nature, or learn more about our great Nation.

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