Photo By Sgt. Michael Iams | Boy Scouts of Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based Troop 789 welcome the newly bridged scouts...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The road to becoming a Boy Scout is a long, yet rewarding process as Cub Scouts cross the bridge to becoming young adults.
For two scouts of Camp Pendleton Cub Scout Pack 789, their hard work and accomplishments were recognized as they earned their Arrow of Light and bridged over to become Boy Scouts here, April 4.
“The Arrow of Light and bridging ceremony is a ceremony for the scouts finishing Cub Scouts,” said Terry Nani, scout master for Troop 789. “It symbolizes their acceptance into Boy Scouts.”
To earn the Arrow of Light, the highest award a Cub Scout can earn, scouts must first earn their Webelos badge and five additional badges.
“This is the only award these scouts can earn as a Cub Scout and wear as a Boy Scout,” said Jeremy R. Dunlap, cub master for Pack 789. “In addition to the Webelos badge, the scouts must earn a mental skills, physical skills, community, technology and outdoorsman and badge.”
During the ceremony, (a Cub Master) wore a traditional Native American headdress and recited the “Story of the Arrow” to the scouts and family members while Native American drums played in the background.
The “Story of the Arrow” tells the meaning of the arrow and gives a message the scouts should live by every day, said Lori Gerace, committee chairman for Pack 789.
After receiving the Arrow of Light, the bridging ceremony commenced welcoming the scouts to the Boy Scout Troop 789.
“When the scouts walk across that bridge they are stepping away from being family oriented and stepping towards be more independent and becoming a young man doing things on their own,” said Nani. “I am honored to attend this ceremony and thrilled to have these scouts join our troop.”
The scouts had to announce themselves and recite the Scout Oath as they crossed the bridge.
“I was a little nervous crossing the bridge and saying the Scout Oath,” said Garrett B. Pacatte, 11, a scout participating in the ceremony. “It was a real big relief to have done it and I was happy that I finally crossed over.”
Once reaching the other side, the scouts of Troop 789 welcomed the newly recognized Boy Scouts to their troop and replaced their epaulets, neckerchiefs and slides.
“I have known these scouts since they were Tiger Cubs,” said Gerace. “I am very proud of them and what they have accomplished and I am not even their parent.”
For more information about the Boy Scouts, visit www.bsatroop789.org or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bsatroop789.
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.24.2012 11:46 |
| Story ID: | 87241 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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