Oath of a Knight

Chivalry isn't dead, but it is up to us to teach it.

In working with the boys in our Scout troop, it dawned on me how we are working toward raising young gentlemen...young knights, if you will. Then I came across the Oath of a Knight and was struck at some of the similarities in it to the Boy Scout Oath.


Oath of the Knight
Be loyal of hand and of mouth, seeking to serve every man as best ye may.

Seek ye the fellowship of good men, hearken unto their words and remember them.
Be humble and courteous wherever thou goest, not talking much, neither being dumb altogether.
Allow no women or child to suffer by thy default, so that if ye may lift thy hand to assist one, do so. If thou must draw thy sword to defend them, do so unto thy own death.
If thou come into fellowship with boys or men who speak in a disrespectful manner of any women or maiden, let them know in gracious words that this displeases thou and thy Lord, then depart their company forthwith.
Thou art to defend and protect those who seek to worship in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and promote faith in Him throughout this earth He has made.

Scout Oath


On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean, and reverent

Leave the World a Better Place

Inspring words from Lord Baden-Powell, the Founder of Boy Scouts in his
Last message to scouts


by Robert Baden-Powell
(These messages were found amongst Baden-Powell's papers after his death, in an enveloped addressed "to the Boy Scouts", inside another envelope containing other documents marked "In the event of my death", that always carried with him in his travels. )
Dear Scouts - If you have ever seen the play "Peter Pan" you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of good-bye.
Remember, it is the last time you will ever hear from me, so think it over.
I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have as happy a life too.
I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn't come from being rich, nor merely from being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man.
Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one.
But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. "Be Prepared" in this way, to live happy and to die happy- stick to your Scout Promise always when you have ceased to be a boy - and God help you to do it.

Your friend,

Robert Baden-Powell
22 February 1857 (1857-02-22) – 8 January 1941 (1941-01-09) (aged 83)

A Great Loss...A Sad Heart

It is with a saddened heart that I announce the passing of G.W. Updike. G. W. was a Scouter for 53 years. He received the Eagle Scout rank in 1963 and was the 2008 Eagle Scout Class Honoree. In 2003, he was recognized by the Council and was awarded the Silver Beaver. He was very active in the Sand Lake District, and was also on the Training Committee for Trainers’ Development Conference and EDGE, Wood Badge staff, Eagle Week staff, International Committee, Jamboree Committee and 2005 Jamboree Scoutmaster. He was a member of Pack and Troop 6, for which he served many positions. He was a role model of honor.

He leaves behind a wife and 8 children.

G.W. was a Den Leader with my husband when we were in Cub Scouts and we crossed over to Boy Scouts with him and his son, James March of last year. He was a dear friend and we will miss him greatly.

Godfrey Waddell Updike, Jr 1946-2010

Cedar Key - a wonderful visit

Just got back from a family camp out with my son's boy scout troop. We camped at

Cedar Key....a wonderful place just about an hour west of Gainesville.

A sleepy fishing village on the Gulf of Mexico with oodles of history and scenery. They have purposefully tried to keep it somewhat undeveloped and preserve it's history. An amazing estuary filled with birds and sea life, and the biggest horse shoe crabs I have ever seen in my life (apparently it's mating season and they were every where). The large white pelican (pictured here) were everywhere too. They will be gone soon as they migrate north.

They have 2 big festivals every year in Cedar Key...April 24-25 is their arts and crafts festival and in October they have a large seafood festival.

We also purposely took the scenic route on the drive and saw the lovely town of Inverness and several others too.

If you've never been to Cedar Key, it is worth the trip!!
http://www.cedarkey.org/

Just the get away I needed....

Eagle Scout Brings a piece of 9/11 History to Florida

This is my son's Boy Scout Troop. Troop 6 is a large and very active group that we are proud to be a part of. This dedication ceremony of Jeff Cox's Eagle Scout project was so very touching. A good many of us were passing around the tissue box. Two families who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks that day spoke to the crowd. Perhaps no one will ever forget where they were on that horrific day.


"Eagle Scout Brings Piece Of 9/11 History To Fla. -
Video - WKMG Orlando"
The link
http://www.clickorlando.com/video/22635708/?taf=orlpn

Amazing Boy Scouts

One of the boys in my son's troop is working on his Eagle Scout project.
He was able to obtain a piece of the twisted steel beams from the WTC 9/11 attack. It will be the focal piece in a memorial garden. Because more than 90 countries lost citizens in that horrific attack, each of the Scouts also made a glazed tile representing on of the countries. These will be part of the memorial.

This weekend, the Troop will gather to clean out, prep and plant the garden where the memorial will be installed. Some of the 175 families who live in Florida and lost family members in the attack will be there.
The official dedication will be in February when the beam arrives.
To be sure, there won't be a dry eye in the house.

Audrey