Reverent
Last night, the parents of W’s Boy Scout Troop held their annual end-of-summer parent party. At the party each year, individual parents are recognized for their service to the troop by being given special pens. The barrel of the pen is wood, and Eagle Scouts from the troop are brought in to make the pens and inscribe one element of the Scout Law onto each pen, signifying that part of Scout Law that the parent’s service most embodies — things like Loyal for long service, or Brave for undertaking some logistically difficult project like planning a big outing.
Ever since W joined the Troop, I’ve been an enthusiastic and active supporter of W’s patrol, of the Troop, and of Scouting in general. I’ve gone on almost all of the outings with W, I’ve attended meetings and worked to help new scouts and families feel welcome, and so on. This past year, I was counselor for the Personal Fitness Merit Badge, shepherding 38 scouts through the classes and fitness program. This summer, I started teaching the Ad Altare Dei religious emblem class for Cathlic Scouts in our Troop. And I’ve volunteered to be assistant scoutmaster (ASM) for J’s patrol when he bridges over.
For leading Ad Altare Dei, for leading the Personal Fitness Merit Badge, and for being “unofficial ASM”, I was given one of the pens. The element of Scout Law on the pen is Reverent.
Scott, our outgoing Scoutmaster who announced my pen, said that pens with Reverent on them were “very rare and coveted."
I’ve received things like Certificates of Appreciation for things like judging science fairs in the past, but this pen will long be one of my most cherished awards.
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I’m uploading photos from the ICRC trip and the vacation to Flickr. Currently, you need to be on my Friends and Family list, whatever that is, to see them. Or maybe I’ll post Guest Pass links here...