[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 39 (Friday, March 9, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E359-E360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TO RECOGNIZE BOY SCOUT TROOP 1501 ON ITS 45TH ANNIVERSARY

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 9, 2012

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Boy Scouts of America Troop 1501 on the occasion of its 45th 
anniversary. Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth 
organizations in the United States, with more than 4.5 million current 
members. Since its founding, nearly 84 million boys have participated 
in scouting.
  Established in 1966, Troop 1501 has taught boys and young men in 
Springfield, Virginia, the skills that will serve them well throughout 
their lives. During the last 45 years, more than 1,000 scouts have been 
members of Troop 1501 and more than 115 scouts have earned the rank of 
Eagle Scout. Nationally, about 2 percent of boys earn scouting's 
highest honor, but Troop 1501 shatters the national average with more 
than 11 percent of its scouts achieving that honor.
  The extraordinary success of Troop 1501 is due in large part to 
exceptional troop leadership, dedicated families, and community support 
from local churches, businesses, and charitable organizations. Troop 
1501 exemplifies the values and tenets of the Boy Scouts of America and 
supports the character development that encourages responsible 
citizenship and self-reliance through a wide range of outdoor 
activities, educational programs, and community service. Members of 
this troop adhere to the Scout Law: ``A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, 
helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, 
clean, and

[[Page E360]]

reverent'' and by the Scout Slogan: ``Do a good turn daily''.
  Scouting develops leadership skills and ethics that foster future 
success in life. Many of our country's greatest leaders have been 
scouts, and having been a scout, especially achieving the rank of Eagle 
Scout, is an achievement that is highly prized by our Military Service 
Academies.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Boy 
Scout Troop 1501 on the occasion of its 45th anniversary and in 
thanking its Scoutmaster Brian Hamilton, volunteers, family members and 
community sponsors for their commitment to our children.

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