Celebration Launched at Upstate History Museum
Chicago publisher William Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910. The local celebration of the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts was launched in Upstate, South Carolina, at the Upstate History museum in Greenville, January 9 and 10 with a visit of national Boy Scout leaders and display of two of Norman Rockwell’s famous paintings honoring the service of scouts.
National Commissioner Tico Perez and Assistant Chief Scout for Development Brad Farmer honored the Blue Ridge Council with their presence for the opening ceremonies.
The Rockwell paintings are on display at the Museum during three consecutive weekends during the month of January, 2010.
The Boy Scouts own about 50 of the Rockwell paintings pertaining to scouting.
Duty to God and Country has consistently been the heart of the scouting creed for a century. In fact little has changed during those years except for the uniforms. Scouts were dressed in the different styles of uniforms during the opening ceremonies at the museum.
Scouting has dropped off in some areas of the nation, however that is not the case in the Blue Ridge Council, said Blue Ridge Council Scout Executive Michael J. Bernhard. The Blue Ridge Council serves youth in seven upstate, South Carolina Counties, including Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry, Laurens, Anderson, Oconee, and Greenville.
The Blue Ridge Council is in its 86th year of service and currently serves more than 18,900 youth and has a goal of reaching strength of 19,000 by December 11, 2010.
Boys can join the scouts at age 11 and make Eagle in their mid to late teens. In rare cases with hard work, boys may earn their Eagles in their early teens.
The Boy Scout organization with headquarters in Irving, Texas, serves more than four million boys. During the 100 year history of the Boy Scouts, more than 112 million boys have been members.
Scouts planted two blight-resistant chestnut trees on the grounds of the Upstate History Museum to commemorate the event for future generations.
