Eagle Ceremony

[TxScout]

I recently earned my Eagle! and my COH is scheduled for April first. I have a few questions. I'm looking for some good gifts to give my dad, Scoutmaster, ex-Scoutmaster, and a Scoutmaster from a troop that merged with ours. I haven't been able to think of anything except for books. What else could I get them? What are some good books? I've thought of "An Official History of Scouting", "Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts", "Scout Law: Quotes for Life", and "The Scouting Way".

Second question, is OK to have a relative be the Master of Ceremonies rather than the SPL or Scoutmaster. I think he'll do a great job and he means a lot to me.

Third and Last, I play the bagpipes, do y'all think it would be appropriate to have my teacher open the ceremony with a tune while the troop silently performs a flag ceramony? I don't know if it would be too fancy, difficult, or extravegant.

Any other tips you have would be great!.

(Actually TxScout is my mom. but I'm posting from her name.)

[Mrw]

Your Eagle ceremony is for you and should be the way you want. If you want bagpipes or a friend to be the MC, then plan it that way.

I won't comment on gifts as I don't know the folks involved and what they might appreciate.

[OldGreyBear]

The Eagle Court of Honor should be tailored to the scout, what you want should rule. For my son's Eagle COR we had a member of the Venturing Crew hw was also in play "Scouting Thunder", you know the one with the words, "we'll never be hoked under listen to out scouting thunder"? I looked and looked all over the place and even tried descrbibing the tune to the piper, she said Oh you mean 'Scotland the Brave" and played it, sure enough, every piper learns Scotland the Brave as their first song. Then of course Amazing Grace as a recessional would be perfect This is for you, do it how you want, respecting Scouting of course

[TxScout]

Well, I'm allready planning what I think is a ring dinger of a ceremony. I was just wondering what y'all thought. Thanks.

[John F.]

A question that maybe some one can help with.

How long should the troop wait on an Eagle scout to come up with a date and time to hold his Eagle COH on?

He had his Eagle BOR back in Oct, he turned 18 in Jan. Here it is now March. When ask, his reply is "I am try to find a date when everybody I want at my ceremony can make it".

[OldGreyBear]

I will repeat what I previously posted. It's up to the Scout, if he wants to wait awhile, then he will wait. He of course takes the chance the longer he waits the more of a chance the members of the troop could forget him or not recognize his name. A few months back the troop had a multi-recipient Eagle Court of Honor, a couple of the boys went through the program and they wanted to do their together. The COmmittee Chair remembered a boy who had received Eagle but never had had a COR. He was included as well. Now, he is 22 and attended in a suit, as his scout uniform ceased fitting him long ago, he was as proud as could be we thought of him. He said with college and all, his COR was forgotten.

Remember, the scout is an Eagle on the date of the Board of Review, not as if the Eagle COurt

[jr56]

Good points. Sounds like a winning idea for a Court of Honor to me.
Sounds like good ideas for books for gifts also.

[Mrw]

We have one who earned Eagle in late Oct of last year and turned 18 a week later. No date yet. He wants to have the COH at the camp he worked at the last few summers and is waiting for the weather to improve.

On the other hand, my older son really pushed to get his organized quickly so his grandmother would be able to attend. She was ill and we didn't know how much longer she would be able to get out.

[Eagle74]

The best gift of all . . . "Thank you". Gifts are nice - and appreciatated- , but through a few decades serving as a Scout leader, those two words are the most treasured gift.