Court Of Honor Nov05

[SPL and ASPL are seated behind the table in the front of the room while people are sitting down.  When the time comes,  stand up, and make the scout sign.  The scouts will become quiet and hopefully this will be a signal for everyone else to be quiet]

Good evening and welcome to the Troop 23 Court of Honor.  My name is <name>.  I am the Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 23 Ashland and this is <name>, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.  I declare this Court of Honor in session.

Please stand for the presentation of the colors. 

ASPL:  Salute.  Color guard, present the colors.

[Two scouts carrying the flags bring them up the center aisle and hold them facing the audience.]Please join me in the pledge of allegiance [lead the pledge of allegiance]

ASPL:  Color guard, post the colors

[The flags are placed in their stands, the scouts return to their seats]

You may be seated.

Tonight we will formally recognize the Scouts and Leaders of Troop 23 for their accomplishments during the past six months.  We open this ceremony with a candle ceremony.  Please turn down the lights.

[SPL picks up a candle from the table and ASPL lights it with a lighter.  It will be used to light the other candles.]

This candle represents scout spirit.  We always have the choice of how we will behave in any situation.  Scout spirit means choosing to follow the scout oath and law.

The three candles in front represent the three parts of the scout oath.

[light the red candle]

This red candle represents Courage and Duty to God and Country.   The courage to do what is right even when you are afraid.

[light the blue candle]

This blue candle represents Loyalty and Duty to others.  Helping your family, friends, and communities whenever you can.

[light the white candle]

This white candle represents Purity and Duty to yourself.  Keeping yourself fit, and clean in purpose, thought, word, and deed.

[The scouts form a line on one side of the stage, if they don’t do it, ask then to:  Will the scouts please form a line to light candles for the points of the scout law]

[Light the first candle and say:]

A Scout is Trustworthy.  A scout tells the truth He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him.

[Pass the candle to the ASPL who lights the next candle and says:]

A Scout is Loyal.  A scout is true to his family, friends, Scout Leaders, school, and nation.

[Each scout passes the candle to the next scout in line who lights the candle and says the words for one point of the scout law.  If necessary, some scouts go back to the end of the line so that all 12 points are read.  The points are short so hopefully the scouts can remember them without reading them.  They will each get one or two slips of paper with the words on it ahead of time.]

A Scout is Helpful. A scout cares about other people  He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.

A Scout is Friendly. A scout is a friend to all.  He is a brother to other scouts.  He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own.

A Scout is Courteous. A scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position.  He knows that using good manners make it easier for people to get along.

A Scout is Kind. A scout knows there is strength in being gentle.  He treats others as he wants to be treated.  Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing.

A Scout is Obedient.  A scout follow the rules of his family, school, and troop.  He obeys the laws of his community and country.  If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them.

A Scout is Cheerful. A scout looks for the bright side of life.  He cheerfully does tasks that come his way.  He tries to make others happy.

A Scout is Thrifty. A scout works to pay his way and to help others.  He saves for the future.  He protects and conserves natural resources.  He carefully uses time and property.

A Scout is Brave. A scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand up for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.

A Scout is Clean.  A scout keeps his body and mind fit.  He chooses the company of those who live by high standards.  He helps keep his home and community clean.

A Scout is Reverent.  A scout is reverent towards God.  He is faithful in his religious duties.  He respects the beliefs of others.

[The last scout passes the lighting candle to the SPL]

Notice how scout spirit was passed from scout to scout and notice how bright the room is now.  This is the way scout spirit works.  Scout spirit is contagious, and when everyone has it, the world is a brighter place.]

[Blow out the lighting candle and put it down]

Please turn up the lights.

Matt Denault, assistant scoutmaster will present the Scout  and Tenderfoot ranks: [After introducing people sit down.  When they are done,  stand up before introducing the next person]

[Matt calls up Andy, Jimmy, and Stephen Cox,  and Tom Szelest, says a few words about what the scout rank means, then pass out the awards, congratulate the boys, shakes their hands, then says “please return to your seats”. 

Matt Calls up Brock Elgart, Says something about Tenderfoot, passes the rank to Brock  shakes his hand and congratulates him, hands him a mothers pin to pin on his mother.  This is in appreciation of all the sacrifices the mothers make for their sons.]

SPL:  Thank you Mr. Denault.  Now Dave Haworth, Assistant Scoutmaster, will present the second class awards

[Dave calls up Evan Jones and Richard Jacquier,  says a few words about what Second Class means, then passes out the awards.  Congratulate the boys, shake their hands.  Will the mothers of these scouts please come forward.  Hand each boy a mothers pin to pin on his mother.  This is in appreciation of all the sacrifices the mothers make for their sons.]

SPL:  Thank you Mr. Haworth.  Now Jeremy Jones, Scoutmaster will present the Star awards.

[Jeremy calls up Sam Gillespie and Evan Doktor,  says a few words about what Star means, then passes out the awards.  Congratulate the boys, shake their hands.  Will the mothers of these scouts please come forward.  Hand each boy a mothers pin to pin on his mother.  This is in appreciation of all the sacrifices the mothers make for their sons.]

SPL:  Thank you Mr. Jones.  Now <name> , <office> will present the Merit Badges.

[<name> presents merit badges.  Maybe say a little about what merit badges are and how they are earned.  Call each boy one at a time and present him with cards and or badges for each merit badge earned.  Congratulate him and shake his hand.]

SPL:  Thank you <name>.   Now Dave Haworth, Assistant Scoutmaster, will present some awards from Camp Resolute earned last summer.

[Dave will present Polar Bear, mention that it meant being down at the waterfront at 6:30AM for four days while others in the camp slept.

Polar Bears – [who are the polar bears this year?]

SPL:  Thank you Mr. Haworth.  Now Jeremy Jones, the Scoutmaster will make some closing remarks,

[Jeremy Jones will thank the parents, the assistant scoutmasters, Introduce and Acknowledge Committee members

Julian Doktor - Treasurer

Nancy Doktor – Chairman

Aileen Cox - Secretary

Alex Logan – Advancement Chair

Let’s all give a hand to Casey Haworth, who recently returned from Basic training with the Army National Guard.  I’m sure he’ll have many stories and a lot to teach us]

SPL:  We will close the ceremony by singing the Scout Vespers.

[Scouts all come to the front and sing the Scout Vespers. The words should be passed out ahead of time.  Hummm the second time, Sam steps forward and clearly recites the Scout Oath while the others are humming]

SPL:  Thank you scouts.  Please stand for the retiring of the colors

ASPL:  Color guard, please retire the colors.  Salute.  [Two boys take the flags back through the center aisle and place them in the storage room halfway down the stairs].

SPL:  I declare this Court of Honor closed.  Thank you everyone and please join us afterwards for refreshments.] Each scout will be reciting the meaning of one point of the Scout Law.  If you don't know your word, talk to Richard.  Memorize the first paragraph for your word, found in the Scout Handbook starting on page 47.  These are mostly quite short.