On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers here at Lend A Hand we wish to congratulate Oscar W. Lange for achieving the highest rank in the Boy Scouts – Eagle Scout. Oscar is a member of Boy Scout troop 117, Warwick and has been instrumental in building a walkway, fence and benches for our new playground last year. Since its construction, many children and parents have enjoyed the park-like environment that Oscar has created. Our deepest thanks to you Oscar for a job well done!! Oscar currently attends Toll Gate High School where he has run on the cross country and outdoor track teams specializing in distance events. He also played piano and guitar in the concert band and show band. Oscar will graduate with the class of 2010. This fall Oscar will be attending the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island, majoring in Physics and Physical Oceanography. We wish you all the best Oscar in your future endeavors!!
The first Eagle Scout medal was awarded in 1912 to Arthur Rose Eldred, a 17-year-old member of Troop 1 of Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York. Eldred was notified that he was to be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in a letter from Chief Scout Executive James West, dated August 21, 1912. The design of the Eagle Scout medal had not been finalized by the National Council, so the medal was not awarded until Labor Day, September 2, 1912. Eldred was the first of three generations of Eagle Scouts; his son and grandson hold the rank as well. Since then, more than 2 million Scouts have earned the rank, and Anthony Thomas of Lakeville, Minnesota was the two-millionth in 2009.
A total of 1,880,905 Scouts have earned Eagle Scout as of the end of 2008; out of 83,486,083 Scouts since 1911, this is about 2 percent of the Boy Scouting membership. In 2008, 52,025 Eagle Scout awards were presented, about 5.7 percent of the 2008 membership.
Eagle Scouts are expected to set an example for other Scouts and to become the leaders in life that they have demonstrated themselves to be in Scouting. As such, they are disproportionately represented in the military, service academy graduates, in higher education and academia, major professions, the clergy, business and politics. Eagle Scouts who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.
HONOR – DUTY – LOYALTY