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Eagle Scout Award, February 23, 1962 (location may be Virginia)
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4525773
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Eagle Scout Award, February 23, 1962 (location may be Virginia)
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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1962-02-28
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1962
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The original documents are located in Box D15, folder "Eagle Scout Award, February 23,
1962 (location may be Virginia)" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and
Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
1962 freeches
REMARKS: EAGLE SCOUT AWARD
Feb. 23,1962
It is a real pleasure and privilege to present to you, Landon, this Eagle
Scout pin as a symbol of your outstanding achievement in Scouting. I want to con-
gratulate you on the record which you have made, on the work that you have done, and
on the honor which you have brought to your family, to your Troop, and to the Boy
Scout movement.
Since the beginning of time there has been something special about an
eagle. It is one of our largest birds and because it can soar at great heights
with a beauty to behold, the eagle has long been a sign of power and courage and freedom.
Eagles can be found practically everywhere in the United states including
the state of Virginia. The bald eagle is protected by federal statute and the other type
of eagle which we have in this country, the golden eagle, is protected in practically
every state except South Carolina and Georgia.
The Audubon Society estimates that there are at least 4,000 bald eagles
in the 49 states outside of Alaska. In Alaska there is a large and untold number.
The bald eagle is not really bald-headed at all but at about three years of age the
feathers at the top of his head become white so that at a distance he appears bald.
When the bald eagles are young, one or two years of age, it is difficult at a
is
FORD
distance to distinguish them from an adult golden eagle. The golden eagle is so called
GERA
Digitized from Box D15 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-2-
because of the golden tint which runs through the feathers on the neck, legs,
and some others parts of his body.
While the bald eagle already is protected by federal law throughout
the United States, the golden eagle may be so protected if joint resolutions
preeently before the Congress are enacted into law. The Fish and Wildlife Service
supports the adoption of these resolutions because of its concern for the
preservation of these noble birds, the bald and golden eagle of the United States.
********
As I have said, many centuries ago the eagle was adopted by men and
governments as a symbol of strength and skill and bravery. Long before the time
of Christ the Romans as wel 1 as the Greeks, Egyptians, and Babylonians had made use
of the eagle as an emblem. In 104 B.C. the eagle became the chief symbol of the
Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages and into modern times the eagle was adopted
by many nations to represent it and the strength and skill and bravery of its
people.
When the first Congress of the United States under the Constitution met
at New York in 1787 it adopted the bald eagle with outstretched wings as the
emblem for the United States. This eagle with outstretched wings is still the
FORD
LIBRA,
symbol of the United States and appears on the face of the Great Seal of our country.
-3-
Everyone of our dollar bills contains on the back side a reproduction of the
Great Seal. There you see the proud bald eagle with outstretched wings holding
10
in one claw a sheaf of arrows denoting the military power and strength of the
United States, 11 and holding in the other claw the olive branch of peace which
is
"
this country values and cherishes for all men. In his beak the eagle holds a
banner on which we find one of the mottoes of our country, "E Pluribus Unum,"
" 11
one out of many. One nation out of many states; and one people out of many races,
creeds, and national backgrounds. The eagle, a noble bird, is a symbol and
emblem of the best and noblest in our way of life.
XXXXXXXXXXX
It is fitting and proper, therefore, that the highest honor which may
come to a Boy Scout should be associated with the eagle and that the top award
for outstanding work in Scouting should be the Eagle Scout Award.
Landon, you may be interested to know that only about 1% of the boys
associated with Scouting achieve the award which you received this evening. In
the National Capital Area Council comprising the District of Columbia, six counties
in Maryland and eleven counties in Virginia, only 283 Scouts received the Eagle
Award last year. This is about 1% of the Scout membership in the Council.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
-4-
I am told that while in 1960 there were 16,776 boys who attained the rank of
Eagle Scout throughout the United States, this figure also represented only
about 1% of the total number of boys in Scouting. You, therefore, have achieved
a notable success among the boys devoted to Scouting.
It is not an easy matter to achieve an Eagle Scout Award. The
requirements are stringent and not completely elective. There are many requirements
which have to be met regardless of the boy's interests or inclination. This is in
keeping with the finest traditions of the history of man. All in life is not
easy and interesting. Many of us must do many things we would not do of our own
choosing; but we do them because the experience of mankind has shown that what
we must do is good for us and for those about us.
The eagle has long been a sign of power, courage, and freedom. It has
been an emblem of strength, and skill, and bravery. I only covet for you, Landon,
continued strength and skill and bravery with that power and courage which will
enable you to enjoy true freedom.
FORD (IBRAR)