OA Eagle Court of Honor
Jonathan Scott Owens
Jonathan Scott Owens
was born January 12, 1980 in Irving
Texas. His parents are Dale and
Carol Owens. Kendra Owens is his
older sister.
Jonathan spent the
first seven years of his education at Irving Christian Academy.
Since that time, he has been home schooled using the Abeka program from
Pensacola Christian College. His
interests include history, science, computers and foreign language.
He will graduate in 1998 and plans to continue his education.
At present he wants to teach Medieval History at the college level.
Jonathan's Scouting
life began with Cub Scouts in February, 1988.
Joining Cub Scouts was a long time goal for Jonathan since Kendra had
been actively involved in Girl Scouts all of his life.
While a Cub Scout, Jonathan earned the Arrow of Light award and the
Religious Knot of his faith. These are the only two awards that follow a Cub Scout to Boy
Scouts and then into adult leadership.
He joined Boy Scout
Troop 508, April 23, 1991. Jonathan
rapidly earned the Scout rank followed by the ranks of Tenderfoot, 2nd Class,
1st Class, Star and Life. During
this period, he served as Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Scribe,
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Senior Patrol Leader and Junior
Assistant Scout Master. Jonathan
currently serves Troop 508 as Junior Assistant Scout Master for the second time.
Also during this
period, Jonathan attended Oak Leaf Junior Leader Training and then a more
advanced training course known as Golden Acorn.
Golden Acorn is the boy leader version of Wood Badge, the most advanced
training for Scout leaders. He has
also staffed Golden Acorn. First he
served as a Patrol Guide and then as Quartermaster.
This year he will staff for the third consecutive year as Assistant
Senior Patrol Leader, a challenge he relishes.
During the months of July and August, Jonathan will serve as a member of
a Philmont Trail Crew and then participate in his second Trek.
In 1995, he went to Philmont and served as Crew Chief of his Trek.
He participated in Trek 25, one of the more strenuous Treks, reported to
be 86 miles in length, but we believe to be longer. It was one of the highlights
of his Scouting Life.
Flag Ceremony & Invocation
Ken Johansen (Committee Chairman):
On behalf of Troop 508, I would like to
welcome all of you to this Eagle
Court of Honor. Will the color
guard please present the colors?
(Color Guard:
Andrew Buckner leader, Tyler Horner carries the American flag and Keith Green
carries the Troop flag. Andrew
moves down center aisle to the front
of stage.)
Andrew Buckner:
Everyone please rise!
Color Guard advance:
(Tyler
carries American Flag down right aisle and
Keith carries Troop flag down left aisle.
They cross in front and proceed to stands.)
Post the colors!
Attention! Scouts salute!
Will you lease join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?
I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for
which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
Two. You
may be seated. Color Guard
dismissed!
(Andrew leads
Tyler and Keith out center aisle.)
Ken Johansen:
The
Invocation will now be given by the Reverend W.
Douglas Hood, Jr., Pastor of Woodhaven Presbyterian
Church.
Reverend W. Douglas Hood, Jr.
Invocation: ----
Eagle Ceremony
Setting:
Six members of the Order of
the Arrow, in Indian costumes and a
ceremonial campfire. Indians enter either in silence or chanting
in a low voice either from
backstage or from the rear of the
audience. The Indians would form
with the four winds on one side, with Allowat
in the center of the stage area, Kinet off to the
side near the candidate.
Allowat:
(Give the sign for quiet.)
I have led my braves to the summit of this mountain in a long journey
from our camp to show you the rewards of your climb along the trail.
When you began this trip as a young Cub Scout of the trail many years
ago, you had this Mountaintop as
your goal. You now
have reached the summit, the realm of the Eagles.
But before admitting you to this honored membership, we must first hear
the story of your long climb
along the trail.
Kinet:
This Scout, after reaching the First Class rank, has worked diligently
and has sought experts who gave him valuable counsel on many subjects.
He has been given advise and encouragement along the trail by capable
leaders.
Allowat:
Before admitting this Scout to the realm of the
Eagle, I would like to have assurance that he has been faithful in
serving his troop, in giving leadership to younger Scouts, and that he is
entitled to wear the wings of the Eagle.
Scoutmaster Bob Harris, has your Scout met these qualifications?
Scoutmaster: Yes,
he has.
Allowat:
Scout Jonathan Scott Owens, you have worked to the point where you are
about to become an Eagle. But,
listen first to the wisdom of the winds.
East Wind:
I am the spirit of the East Wind. I
represent the common law,
your duty to God and to country.
Trustworthy, loyal, and helpful, are the qualities which a man must
possess who lives by the laws
and rules of this land. See that we do
not lose this great blessing of a lawful land.
West Wind:
As the spirit of the West Wind. I
represent the law of equity, your duty to country and to
others, friendly, courteous, and kind are the
laws that breathe of conscience. They
create the atmosphere that comes from within you
heart. The desire for you
always to be friend to those of all
ages, young and old alike.
Courteous to those who pass along your trail.
Cast away the harmful spirit of unfriendliness and selfishness.
South Wind:
I am the spirit of the South Wind. I
represent the civil law, your duty to others and to self. Obedient, cheerful and
thrifty are the characteristics of civility. A life of cheerful obedience
is necessary for the development of a true citizen. Obedience
is omething everyone has to learn -- to take orders and
carry them our cheerfully. Real
thrift means earning, spending wisely and saving, and to share with those less
fortunate.
North Wind:
I am the spirit of the North Wind, the most powerful of all.
I represent the divine law. Brave,
clean, reverent. To be brave is to
be unselfish. To be clean in body
and soul is to be pure in heart. Cast
from your mind and body any evil spirit that tries to weaken or
destroy the divine law, live a life of reverence.
Be brave and clean.
Allowat:
Through all the climb up the Scouting trail, the
badges have changed as your abilities grew. But one pledge remained
unchanged, the Scout Oath.
Is there any reason why you as a new Eagle cannot renew this promise
which you first made as a new
Scout?
Jonathan:
No.
Allowat:
Then you will make the Scout sign and state the Scout Oath slowly and clearly.
Jonathan:
(Repeats the Scout Oath slowly.)
Allowat:
Scouting has been a great influence in your life.
It has supplemented the effect of your
home, your church and your school. You
climbed through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class.
Kinet:
Then additional merit badges allowed you to be a Star, while still more
and harder ones found you wearing the heart of a Life Scout. More time and much
harder requirements found you
adding to your qualifications until now you have reached the highest rank in
Scouting achievement, the Eagle.
Allowat:
Without the love and guidance of understanding
parents, a boy is severely handicapped.
Your mother has watched you grow
and develop. She has worked for you
in health, nursed you in sickness,
guided your thoughts and actions,
and helped you in untold ways.
Your father has been a strength to lean on, someone to turn to in times
of trouble and for help. Your home influence will last you throughout your life. I
ask your parents to stand beside you as a symbol that they will continue to help
the young Eagle to grow in the qualities of leadership and citizenship
which a true Eagle must have.
(The four winds escort the parents to the side of the candidate.)
Kinet:
As a token of your willingness to continue your help for this young Eagle, I ask you Mrs. Owens to pin
the Eagle badge on your son.
(She does so.)
Scout, you have seen how your mother plans to standby you in the future.
Do you now promise to do your best as an Eagle Scout?
Jonathan:
Yes.
Kinet:
Then you now have the honor to pin a
miniature Eagle pin on your mother.
(He does so.)
Mr. Owens, please read the letter to your son
from the Chief Scout Executive and present him with the Eagle certificate
and letter.
(He does so.)
Allowat:
As Ceremonial Chief, I now call upon Mr. John Carmen to give the new
Eagle the charge:
John
Jonathan, I have the honor to give you the Carmen:
Eagle charge on the occasion of your reaching the highest rank in
scouting. The scouts of all
nations constitute one of the most wholesome and significant movements in
the world's history.
You have been judged by the Boy Scouts
of America of being worthy of the highest rank in this great movement.
All who know you rejoice in your achievement.
Your position, as you know, is one of honor
and responsibility. You are
a marked man. As an Eagle Scout, you have assumed a
solemn obligation to do your duty to God, to country, to your fellow
scouts and mankind in general.
This is a great undertaking. As
you live up to your obligations you bring honor to yourself and to your brother scouts.
I charge you, Jonathan, to undertake your
citizenship with a solemn dedication.
Be a leader, but lead only toward the best.
Lift up every task you do and every office you hold to
high level of service to God and to your fellow man.
So live and serve that those who know
you will be inspired o finer living.
We have too many who use
their strength and their brains to exploit others and gain selfish ends. I
charge you to be among those who dedicate
their skills and ability to the common good.
Build America on the solid foundation of clean
living, honest work, unselfish citizenship and reverence for God; and
whatever others may do, you will
leave behind a record of which every
other Scout may be justly proud.
Jonathan, as an Eagle Scout, you become a
guide to other Scouts of lower rank. You
become an example in your community. Remember, your actions are now a
little more conspicuous and
people will expect more of you. To
falter in your responsibility, would not
only reflect upon you, but on your fellow eagles and all of scouting.
The torch you carry is not
only yours, but is ours also.
Jonathan, I challenge you to enter this Eagle brotherhood, holding ever
before you, without reservation, the ideals of honor and service, by repeating
the Eagle Scout Promise before your fellow members.
Though the words you use are similar to those by which you joined
scouting, they will mean more now than they could have meant at any time
in the past. When you pledge yourself on your sacred honor, you will be sealing
your eternal loyalty to the code of
the Eagle Scout, with the words which closed the Declaration of Independence.
Scouts and guests please stand.
(Pause.)
Eagle Scout candidate, Jonathan Scott Owens,
make the scout sign and repeat after me:
I reaffirm my allegiance --- to the three promises --- of the Scout Oath
--- I thoughtfully recognize ---
and take upon myself --- the obligations and responsibilities
--- of the rank of Eagle Scout. --- I will do my best --- to make my
training an example --- my rank and my influence --- count strongly --- for
better scouting --- and for better citizenship, ---
in my troop --- and in my community --- and in my contacts --- with other
people. --- To
this pledge --- my sacred honor.
Audience, please be seated.
(When the charge is finished, the four winds step, one at a time, to the new Eagle, and
each puts his right hand on the Eagle's right
shoulder as he states the following:)
East Wind:
Remember the common law: Trustworthy,
loyal, helpful.
West Wind:
Remember the law of equity: Friendly,
courteous, kind.
South Wind:
Remember the civil law: Obedient,
cheerful, thrifty.
North Wind:
Remember the divine law: The
most powerful of all: Brave, clean,
reverent.
Allowat:
I now welcome you, new Eagle, to the summit of your trail.
The Eagle is strong and powerful,
and flies unblinking into the face of the sun.
It soars high and builds on a pinnacle. You must not swerve from your duties as an Eagle.
Allowat:
(Hands upraised.)
We now call upon the Great Spirit of all, for His blessing on this young
man. May he ever strive to attain
the nobelist and highest ideals of life. Be
his strength and his guide. Cause
him to follow a straight trail and to never be a
reason for other Scouts to waiver from the
path. Protect him for many
moons to come. May the Great Master
of all Scouts be with us until our trails cross again.
(The Indians now walk back from whence they came, and the Scoutmaster takes over to start
the congratulations.)
Jay Brakefield (Jonathan's Cubmaster):
Jonathan, five years ago, as your Cubmaster,
I tied your Webelos neckerchief in a square knot.
This would seal your promise that you would stick with Scouting until you
earned your Eagle rank. I am
now here to untie the Webelos
scarf, signifying that you have kept your promise.
Bob Harris (Scoutmaster):
(Present Troop Eagle Plaque.)
Would the following Adult leaders please stand
and come forward?
Steve Askins.
Jay
Brakefield.
Debbie
Brakefield.
Richard
Buckner.
Ed Dayton.
Jim Dunkley.
Suzanne
Ezell.
Stan Green.
Frank Horak.
Ken Johansen.
Bill Lee.
Barbara Murry.
Randy Svajda.
Dennis Teel.
Mike Teel.
Al Voelkle.
Nim Voelkle.
(Jonathan thanks each one for their help on his
trail to Eagle.)
Ken Johansen:
The Eagle Badge...The highest rank that a
Scout can earn ...What is it
worth?...Well, in dollars and cents it is worth
$6.50...probably a dollar and a half in silver, twenty cents worth of ribbon, and the rest
of it in manufacturing and handling costs...But, what is it really worth
Think back to the first time when you first
became a Scout.
Remember the Scout skills that you learned for each rank.
And the rededication to the Scout Oath and
Law each time you advanced. Think
of the service that you have given
to your troop and to other people. Is
your Eagle badge worth six fifty? Of
course not. Your Eagle
badge is priceless. It
presents everything that you have learned,
everything that you have done, to be prepared, to
help others, and to help yourself. So
now you stand at the peak of the
mountain. An Eagle Scout...now look
ahead...look sharp. Way out
there in the mist is another mountain...and
there below is the trail to your future. It may be a long trail, or a short one,
but it leads to that mountain far
away. As you walk down the trail, and as the years roll by, and you finally reach the end, we all
hope that you can look back on the trail of life and be able to say,
"I have done my best."
Would all Eagle Scouts in the audience please
stand and come forward to congratulate Jonathan on attaining the rank of Eagle.
This Eagle Court of Honor stands adjourned.
Please join us for the cookout.
(Ken escorts Jonathan and his parents out the
center aisle.)
Leadership Positions Held
Assistant
Patrol Leader
Patrol
Leader
Scribe
Assistant
Senior Patrol Leader
Troop
Guide
Senior
Patrol Leader
Junior
Assistant Scout Master
Order
of the Arrow Member
Patrol
Counselor
Golden
Acorn 94-2
Quatermaster
Golden
Acorn 95-2
Crew
Chief
Philmont
Trek 25
Assistant
Senior Patrol Leader
Golden
Acorn 96-3