Eagle COH Worksheet
Sample Eagle Scout Ceremony Outline
Troop 16, Oak Park, IL (founded 1916)
by Ben Parker, Internet: bparker@interaccess.com,
Compuserve: 71450,2735
Troop 16 Eagle Scout Court of Honor Work Sheet
(To parents of new eagle scout)
The Committee of Troop 16 sends our sincere Congratulations on achieving
Scouting's highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout. Every Eagle Scout is
constantly looked up to as a special example of leadership and service. It
is indeed a special accomplishment.
Because of the special significance of this award, we invite the Eagle Scout
and his parents to assist in planning the Court of Honor, so it will always be
a special memory for him. This guide has been prepared to help you in your
choices. While there is an organized plan to the ceremony, there is also a
good deal of flexibility, to accommodate any special people or events that you
want to be part of the ceremony. If you want to make changes, please do so,
and let us know what you would like to do. The Troop Committee will appoint
someone to work with you throughout this process. Please note that it takes 6
to 8 weeks to make all the necessary arrangements, select teams, rehearse
them, print invitations, etc.
General Information:
The date, time, and place of the Court of Honor are basically up to you to
decide. You should, of course, be cognizant of holidays, school, church and
Troop schedules. This will allow a maximum opportunity for other Troop
members to attend. It may be done at First United Church, at your own church,
or at another location that has special significance for you in your son's
achievement. You should also give thought to whether or not a reception
afterward will be held, and if suitable facilities are available for it.
Please note we are a large Troop and the number attending the Court of Honor
and reception can easily be 100 or more people.
Once a date, time and location have been determined, please notify us and the
Troop will print invitations on standard BSA Eagle stationery. We will give
these to you for addressing and mailing. The members of the Troop will all be
invited by an enclosure in a regular Troop mailing. You may also have your
own invitations printed if you prefer.
The Troop will also make the printed programs for the Court of Honor, based on
the Program Worksheet enclosed, again on standard BSA stationery, unless you
choose to provide your own. The Troop will provide scouts to serve as the
Master of Ceremonies, ushers, the Color Guard, and the Dedication Team. The
Troop will of course provide the Eagle award presentation kit which includes
the Eagle Ribbon badge, cloth badge, Mother's miniature pin, Father's tie-tac,
and Scout's miniature pin, as well as a framed Eagle certificate.
Additionally, the Troop will prepare a binder for the Scout which will include
(mounted in plastic sleeves) all congratulatory letters and a copy of the
ceremony. The Troop will also pay for the Scout's initial (5 year) membership
in the National Eagle Scout Association.
You should know that once your son's Eagle application has been processed by
the National Office, you will receive various solicitations directly from
National for various Eagle mementos, stained glass windows, plaques, and other
forms of recognition. The choice to purchase of any of these items either by
yourself or as a suggestions to family relatives is of course up to you.
Court of Honor Program & Ceremony:
In planning the location and time, please remember the Troop needs to have
access to the location a minimum of 1 hour before the ceremony, for setup and
rehearsal by the various teams that will be performing. There is a worksheet
attached which outlines the principal parts of the ceremony. Many items are
indicated as optional. You may include them or not as you choose. The choice
to include any kind of music, such as a hymn or the camp song is optional. If
you want a organist or other musician for accompaniment of music you will need
to ask them yourself. The Master of Ceremonies will usually be the Senior
Patrol Leader of the Troop, but you may select another Scout if you choose.
The Color Guard will usually be composed of Troop members, but you may select
other scouts if you desire. The 'Dedication Team' will be composed of Troop
16 boys because this ceremony is unique to the history of Troop 16. You may
choose the boys to participate on this team or leave it up to the SPL.
The Call of the Eagle is an audio or video tape special presentation. Its use
is optional.
The choice of Speakers is up to you, or we will help with suggestions. The
main purpose is for various adults, in different aspects of the Scout's life,
to briefly tell of the effort and accomplishment of the Scout in the area of
experience they know him. It is not necessary to have all 5, but there should
be at least 3, ending with the Scoutmaster. The speaker representing the BSA
may be a Scouter from another Troop, a District or Council Executive. The
speaker for the Church usually represents the church where the COH is
performed or someone from the Scout's own religious training. A significant
teacher or perhaps someone from the community, perhaps with whom the Scout
worked on his Eagle Project, is another possibility. The Scout may have
another personal or scouting mentor, a person from the OA Lodge perhaps, or a
relative of significance to his achievement. Lastly, will be the Scoutmaster,
who will relate the Scout's record of accomplishments and scouting history in
the Troop.
The Eagle Scout Challenge is a statement in the responsibilities expected of
an Eagle Scout and all other Eagle Scouts present will participate at this
time. The Eagle Scout Charge is the actual 'oath of responsibility' and
immediately precedes the presentation of the Eagle Award. The parents will be
a part of this ceremony. The Scout will receive his award, and he will in
turn, present miniature awards to both parents.
The Eagle Scout is expected to say a few words in acceptance of his award,
perhaps thanking particular people who have been of special help along his
trail as well as inspiring others Scout's still working the Trail to Eagle.
The Scoutmaster will then read from various letters of congratulations and
recognitions from political figures or others unable to attend. This may be
followed by an optional closing hymn and then the closing flag ceremony.
After the Court of Honor:
Since the location of the Court of Honor is your choice, the place of a
reception afterwards is also yours. Whether or not to have a reception, what
kind of refreshments, how much to have, etc. are all up to you. If asked, any
members of the committee will help with these arrangements, but the principal
direction and decisions must be yours. The Troop will pay for a decorated
flat cake for the reception.
The reception is a good time and place to present any additional family
recognitions, and also to display a 'memory board' of your son's involvement
with Scouting as well as the book detailing his Eagle Project work.
Troop 16 Eagle Scout Court of Honor Work Sheet
for Eagle Scout ___________________________
Date__________ Time____________
Location____________________________________
Suggested Program Outline (ver# _____)
(greeting & seating by ushers)
Call to Order (SPL or _____________________)
Opening Flag Ceremony (Color Guard)
Invocation (optional) _____________________
Opening Hymn (optional) _____________________
Re-dedication of Eagle candidate
to Scout Oath & Law (Troop)
Speakers: (minimum of three)
For the Boy Scouts of America _____________________
For the Church _____________________
For the Community or School _____________________
For the Scout _____________________
For the Troop (Scoutmaster or ___________________)
The Eagle Scout Challenge (SM or _____________________)
(incl. all other Eagles present)
The Eagle Scout Charge (SM or _____________________)
Award Presentation (Eagle Scout & parents)
Acceptance & Recognition (Eagle Scout & SM)
Closing Hymn (optional) _____________________
Closing Flag Ceremony (Color Guard)
(w/Scout Benediction)
Boy Scout Troop
A Ceremony for Eagle Scout Re-dedication to the Scout Oath & Law
(Props needed: Troop 16 "Induction" birch log candle rack and candles, matches)
[Note: this is 3 tiered birch logs, mounted on a post.
1 candle on the highest log, 3 candles on the middle, 12 on the lowest]
(Personnel: 1 Boy Scout leader (SPL?) and 6 Scouts for Scout Law, all in
full Class A uniform)
SPL: (to audience)
We are about to re-dedicate ourselves to the Scout Oath and Law.
(to team)
Team members prepare yourselves.
(pause a moment, while 'scout law team' assembles in front of candle racks,
SPL steps behind center candle rack. When all is ready and quiet: )
SPL: My Brothers, Once before you stood here with your Fellow Scouts.
I will now remind us all of our determination to always be true and faith-
ful to the obligations of a Boy Scout. (SPL lights 1 candle.)
You see before you a single light, which represents the Spirit of
Scouting. As we go through this ceremony, you will see this light grow
until it shines in all parts of the world. In this way, the promises you
make and the obligations you take, when in deed you live them, will
make your whole life a shining light.
You see before you 3 candles, each symbolizing a part of the
Scout Oath. The center candle represents your Duty to God and
Country, and to obey the Scout Law. (light center candle)
Service is the keynote of the second part of our Oath, and exacts a
solemn promise: To help other people at all times. (light second candle)
Character is the third part of our Oath, and is bound up in a
pledge: To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally
straight. (light third candle)
Now the 12 points of the Scout Law will be presented to complete
the true obligations of a Scout. May the virtues which they represent
glow the brighter in our hearts and minds.
(1st scout comes forward, in front of candle racks, turns to face candidates,
makes the scout sign and says "A Scout is Trustworthy." As he speaks, SPL
lights 1st candle. REPEAT FOR EACH LAW.)
(when all 12 laws have been done)
SPL: Will Eagle Scout Candidate ________________ please come
forward. (candidate does so)
SPL: (to candidate) Eagle Scout Candidate _______________. We, your
fellow scouts ask that you re-dedicate yourself to the principles of
Scouting, and that you resolve to uphold these principles with the same
ambition and perseverance that has brought you this far on the scout-
ing trail.
(to audience) Will all Scouts and Scouters please rise, and raise your
right hand in the Scout sign and say with us the Scout Oath.
"On my Honor... " (all do so)
SPL: Two. You may be seated.
(Team and Eagle Scout candiate return to seats, audience sits)
The Call of the Eagle
(Optional program element: available as audio tape or video tape)
I am the voice of the Eagle.
I speak for The Eagles whose summit you have struggled so hard to reach.
We remember well when you first came to the base of our mountain, and how you
looked up with ambition and determination.
Pause for a moment, and look back over the trail you have climbed: Look back
at the adventures you have encountered on your ascent. These experiences are
a valuable teacher if you but heed them.
We remember when you took your first steps upon the Boy Scout trail. With
your first step you began to start living the Scout Oath and Law. You began
to build yourself, physically, mentally, and morally. Your brother scouts
then called you a Tenderfoot -- and they were right, for you were indeed a
tenderfoot.
But not for long. For as you climbed, you soon reached a turning in the
trail, and you were greeted by a large group of friendly Second Class Scouts.
Some, like yourself, were stopping to catch their breath, before continuing
along the trail. But you studied more, you worked harder, you continued your
climb, and soon came to another turning, the place where First Class Scouts
dwell.
There you found a green, flowered meadow close by a crystal clear stream,
sparkling in sunshine. Many other scouts rested beside the murmuring waters.
You were tempted to remain. But your ambition spurred you, and you continued
your upward venture.
We next remember your progress when you turned the trail to become a Star
Scout. You found the trail from First Class had been an optical illusion, not
so difficult as it had first seemed. This inspired you to push onward, to
climb higher.
But now the trail was steeper, and less traveled. Fewer Scouts seemed headed
in your direction. You looked back and saw crowds below you. You looked up,
and saw very few above. Yet, with the same determination as you started your
climb, now enhanced by experience and firm resolve, you continued to push up
the trail.
Soon you turned another corner on the trail and the Heart shaped badge of the
Life Scout was placed on your uniform. You will always recall the thoughts in
your heart at this moment, it has been experienced by all scouts reaching the
ledge of Life: "Now I am close to the Eagle, I will carry on".
But the trail now grows tougher and fainter, many seem to falter along the
way. The original simple principles of the Scout Oath and Law take on a
fuller meaning, as your understanding grows greater.
WE, the Eagles, have watched your character unfold and become more manly. We
have watched your leadership ability expand into a valuable asset. We have
watched your mind develop and your wisdom increase. Yes, We have watched all
these things in you,
And now, that you are standing at the summit of the trail, in the glory of
sunshine and wind and cloud at the threshold of your goal, WE, your Fellow
Eagles applaud you and welcome you, for you have done your climbing in a true
scout-like manner.
Eagle Scout Challenge
(To be read by Scoutmaster and 4 other Eagle Scouts present)
Leader: The foremost responsibility of an Eagle Scout is to live with
HONOR. To an Eagle Scout, honor is the foundation of all character. He knows
that "A Scout is Trustworthy" is the first point of the Scout Law for a good
reason. An Eagle Scout lives honorably, not only because honor is important
to him but because of the vital significance of the example he sets for other
scouts. Living honorably reflects credit on his home, his church, his troop,
and his community. May the white color of the Eagle badge remind you always
to live with honor.
Person 1: The second obligation of an Eagle Scout is LOYALTY. A Scout is
true to his family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation. His loyalty
to his troop and brother Scouts makes him pitch in and carry his share of the
load. All of these help to build the loyalty which means devotion to
community, to country, to one's own ideals, and to God. Let the blue of the
Eagle badge always inspire your loyalty.
Person 2: The third obligation of an Eagle Scout is to be COURAGEOUS.
Courage has always been a quality by which men measure themselves and others.
To a Scout, bravery means not only the courage to face physical danger, but
the determination to stand up for the right. Trusting in God, with faith in
his fellow man, he looks forward to each day, seeking his share of the world's
work to do. Let the red of the Eagle badge remind you always of courage.
Person 3: The fourth obligation of an Eagle Scout is to be CHEERFUL. To
remind the Eagle Scout to always wear a smile, the Red, White and Blue ribbon
is attached to the scroll of the Second Class Scout, which has its ends turned
up in a smile.
Person 4: The final responsibility of an Eagle Scout is SERVICE. The Eagle
Scout extends a helping hand to those who still toil up Scouting's trail, just
as others helped him on his climb to the Eagle. The performance of a daily
Good Turn takes on new meaning when he enters a more adult life of continuing
service to others. The Eagle stands as a protector of the weak and helpless.
He aids and comforts the unfortunate and the oppressed. He upholds the rights
of others while defending his own. He will always "Be Prepared to put forth
his best.
Leader: You deserve much credit for having achieved Scouting's highest
award. But wear your award with humility, ever mindful that the Eagle Scout
is looked up to as an example. May the Scout Oath and Scout Law be your guide
for tomorrow and onward.
The Eagle Scout Charge