[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8264-8265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA ON THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2010

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Boy Scouts of America 
on their 100th anniversary and to pay tribute to the impact scouting 
has had on the lives of countless young men over the past century. As 
members of the Hiawathaland Council in Michigan's Upper Peninsula 
gather this weekend to celebrate the Boy Scouts' centennial, I ask that 
the U.S. House of Representatives join me in commemorating 100 years of 
scouting.
  The Boy Scouts of America was created on February 8, 1910 with a 
purpose of teaching young men patriotism, courage, self-reliance and 
kindred values. By 1912, Boy Scouts were in every state, and in 1916 
Congress granted the Boy Scouts of America a federal charter.
  Across the country, every Boy Scouts council commits each scout to 
perform 12 hours of community service a year, totaling 30 million hours 
of community service annually. In addition to the commitment young men 
show to scouting, more than 1 million adult scout leaders are 
selflessly serving young people in their communities through 
organizations chartered by the Boy Scouts of America.
  As an Eagle Scout myself, I have a special appreciation for the rich 
history and tradition of scouting that has touched so many lives over 
the past 100 years. The lessons young men learn as scouts help guide 
them throughout their lives.
  In scouting, you learn to do a good deed everyday. The world would be 
a better place if we all lived by this simple creed. In scouting, you 
learn to leave your campsite in better shape than you found it. Many 
scouts grow up to be leaders in their communities or here in the United 
States Congress and strive to leave things better than they found them.
  For a century now, scouting has helped to instill in young men the 
values of good conduct, respect for others and honesty. Scouting has 
taught young men skills that will last a lifetime, including basic 
outdoors skills, first aid, citizenship, leadership, and how to get 
along with others. Scouting teaches the values and knowledge to become 
leaders in our communities and our country.
  Madam Speaker, the lives of millions of young men, including many 
members of this chamber, have benefited from their experiences in 
scouting. Too often, the valuable contribution of scouting to our 
communities

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and to the development of future leaders goes unrecognized. As the 
Hiawathaland Council gathers in Marquette, Michigan this weekend to 
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, I ask 
that you, Madam Speaker, and the entire U.S. House of Representatives 
join me in congratulating the Boy Scouts of America on 100 years of 
scouting.

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