Last night (December 18, 2023), I witnessed the final Court of Honor ceremony of my original scout unit, Troop 50, of Woodlawn United Methodist Church in Roanoke, VA. After years of declining enlistments and the loss of its Cub Scout “feeder” pack, the troop leaders finally determined there were not enough new scouts entering the unit to make it worthwhile for the boys. For a troop that once boasted more than four dozen scouts on any given Monday night, its recent meetings were regularly attended by less than eight kids, most of whom were about to age out. So, it was time to make the tough decision and help the remaining scouts find new troops.
As background, Troop 50 was chartered in 1960 by Scoutmaster William “Bill” Mason, who intentionally secured this troop number in the 50th year of Boy Scouting in the U.S. It was a historically large troop in Roanoke, and had only a few scoutmasters over its 63 years of existence: Bill Mason, Bob Davis, a short-term leader whose name is lost to me, then my brother Jim Warren, another short-term leader, then John Eure, Bill Talbot, and Bruce Jones. One of the secrets to this troop’s longevity was Bill Mason’s wife, Elizabeth, who coordinated Cub Scout Pack 50 for many of those years.
On a more personal note, it was the troop I grew up in; where I served as an assistant scoutmaster and one-time committee chair; and it is where I remained a registered leader during my later years. As an adolescent, I am positive that Troop 50 saved my life by giving me a safe place to learn adult skills and develop healthy connections with others. It taught me how to stay alert, safe, and responsible during my formative years when the temptation was to be irresponsible and dangerous. I’m only one of hundreds of young men who came through this troop over its six decades. If my own tale is any indication, it’s easy to see how Troop 50’s positive influence extended into countless homes over several generations in this community.
In this final ceremony, five scouts received advancement awards and merit badges. Sadly, it was over in less than a half-hour. In a touching, and fitting closing ceremony, Scoutmaster emeritus John Eure was recognized for his many years of service to the troop. He had been a young lad in the troop when it originally formed. And he was there at the end when former leaders were asked to assemble at the front of the room and retire the colors. When the flags were properly folded, they were solemnly presented to John as a tribute to his positive impact in the lives of so many scouts.
It is not easy to say goodbye to your troop of origin. It is a reality faced by many troops today, in light of the changes faced by Scouting BSA. The good news is that the program is still fundamentally sound and its principles are as important as they ever were, as a scout is still Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent*. While Scouting may not ever reach the enrollments of the Baby Boom Era, it is still a program that I choose to support. My hope is that my own grandchildren will find it as engaging and worthwhile as I did in 1971 when I first entered Troop 50 as a Scout.
Stephen Warren – Natahwop Editor
(*These are the immutable 12 points of the Scout Law.)
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