[July 26, 2022] Sunday morning I was informed that one of our Eagle Scouts, a Boy Scout since he was 7 years old (a Tiger Cub), had passed away in his sleep. Any time we lose a loved one, good friend, or someone who showed promise, spirit, and friendliness, we mourn for their loss to us and our community. We rightly grieve, for they gave so much of themselves for others.
In the case of this young man, who just turned 18 years old, we are especially stricken by his loss. He gave testament to Boy Scout virtues. The young man was a Boy Scout, although he was a man. Why does the loss of a Scout mean so much to us? G.M.L. Henry gives us insight into why. You can read his full article here (see link).
The old Boy Scouts stressed virtue, truthfulness and courtesy, leading to the famous saying “scouts’ honor;” a saying that passed into culture as a testament to the absolute truth of a thing. Much more than its focus on good moral character, the Boy Scouts was founded to encourage manly pursuits and skills. Camping, survival, swimming, shooting, woodcraft, hiking and more were a part of the multiple skills boy scouts were required to learn and excel at.
The uniforms, the badges, camping trips, hikes; all were designed to give the boys a strong, masculine character. To dare and risk as their fathers did. To learn the skills that Western manhood has passed down for hundreds of years from one generation to another. They learned about wilderness survival and wildlife; hearkening back to the days that their predecessors landed on the shores of the untamed American continent and learned to live off her many bounties and survive her many hardships.
As they acquired each skill they felt one step closer to being men; brave and strong like the heroes of their time. The natural desire of a boy to be a man and to be masculine surged through their blood as they lived for days in lonely forests and learned how to track, fish and survive.
When the Boy Scouts were founded in 1910, Christian culture had reached its zenith in the Western world. Christian manhood and its accompanying virtues were held in high esteem, while savagery and hedonism were scorned.
The last president of the United States at the time, Theodore Roosevelt, had boldly proclaimed before all the glories of the “strenuous life”. In a highly acclaimed speech he declared to the men present “ I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph.”
Valor, courage, honesty, diligence were all character qualities that were highly respected at the time. Two years later, the tragic sinking of the Titanic would display the sacrifice expected of Christian men as they gave their seats in the few lifeboats to women and children; the call “women and children first” passing into historical lore. It was this the early Scouts aspired to. This was what they dreamed of. Adventure, excursions and pride in a job well done.
A boy was taught to be tough, endure pain, show bravery, be courteous to women and children and above all be honest in all his dealings. An amalgamation of the great qualities that made Christian, western civilization the most powerful the world had ever seen.
The Boy Scout, as the original Boy Scout Handbook states, “must be chivalrous, manly, and gentlemanly.” He was to hold his honor in the highest regard. The manual goes on to say that “the honor of a Scout will not permit anything but the highest and the best and the manliest.”
————–
Please read my new book, “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” on Amazon (link here).
The passing of a young man is never without great loss to our country. One such as this young man is an especially grievous loss to us all.
Excellent article and thanks for drawing my attention to the article by GML Henry.
Gen. Satterfield asks, “Why does the loss of a Scout mean so much to us? ” Well, altho I think he answered the question, I’ll take another shot at it. We mourn the loss of a young scout because we lose what he would have contributed to the world. He would not have been involved in crime, hedonistic acts, disrespect of others, but his potential to give the world was infinite. We lose that. We are all losers for this loss.
Such a wonderful eulogy for a boy scout. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield.
I was thinking the same thing, Billy. This leadership blog is THE place to go for all sorts of ideas on how to make yourself a better person. Have an aim in life and put all your energy into it.
Right Steve, and don’t be distracted by the glittery and shinny objects that lay along your path.
Thank you, Billy. You expressed my exact thoughts. Simple. Straightforward. Thanks.
“A human being should be able to heal a wound, plan an expedition, order from a French menu, climb a mountain face, enjoy a ballet, balance accounts, roll a kayak, embolden a friend, tell a joke, laugh at himself, cooperate, act alone, sing a children’s song, solve equations, throw a dog a stick, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, love heartily, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” — Lew Hitchner
Gen. Satterfield, we mourn the loss as well.
“Sunday morning I was informed that one of our Eagle Scouts, a Boy Scout since he was 7 years old (a Tiger Cub), had passed away in his sleep. Any time we lose a loved one, good friend, or someone who showed promise, spirit, and friendliness, we mourn for their loss to us and our community. We rightly grieve, for they gave so much of themselves for others.”
Gen. Satterfield, like so many proven leaders, remains involved in the lives of others. That is what searching for and accepting responsibility is about. We are priviledged to know him and to be able to communicate with him and other like-minded leaders thru this leadership forum.
This is exactly why I keep coming back to his website. Gen. Satterfield, we salute you and the Boy Scouts today for what you are doing to make our nation better.
So true, thanks Jonnie. ✔
Yes, so true.
Indeed, the eulogy by GML Henry – I don’t know who he is – is well put together. Read the whole article and I think we can all agree the Mr. Henry is really attacking the “woke” Boy Scouts (strike out the word ‘boy’) in his eulogy becuase it is a eulogy for the Boy Scouts as an organization.
A really articulate eulogy.
Yes, i agree Fred. And, this is the kind of words that show the proper respect and caring that we all wish we could show. Respect! That is what much of this is about.
Yes, well written. Thanks all.
Please pass along to the family, that the forums of Gen. Satterfield are praying for the family and for the soul of the Scout who passed.
Please pass along my condolences to the family of the Boy Scout who passed away.
Yes, I think we all can have the same thoughts on this tragic event that cut short a young life with so much promise. That is why we must all show respect to those who are GOOD in what they day. I’ll also be praying for his family.
Yes, same, here condolences. 👍
Indeed, pray for his family and his soul but also pray for those who hold evil values that run counter to what the Boy Scouts have in their value rucksack.
👍👍👍👍👍 Yes, thanks Army Vet.
Yes, please pass them along and with the idea that even those who did not know the young man, that we can feel the loss. There are very few in this world that are willing to step up and become leaders. The Boy Scouts is an organization that encourages and teaches leadership. And, that is why we are all here on this forum.
Yes, thanks DPG. You beat me to the punch on this one. 👍
Yes, same here. We all stand with our Boy Scouts and wish them all well. Pass along our condolences and prayers.
Well written. Thanks.
There is a value in activities restricted to men. There is simply a camaraderie that exists among men that can never form across gender lines. Boy Scouts taught me much of what I know today. I wonder if it will be able to do this in the future. The Boy Scouts should not have girls in it. Period. Pop culture wins over respect.
The crazy folks who don’t believe what you have said here Greg continue to push their debased values to us. It is only a matter of time before the chickens come home to roost.