22 December 2008
Boy Scouts Will Escort President Obama
Posted by admin under: Community Partners .
Kia Gregory knew something I didn’t. Scouts were invited to be in an inauguration day parade. Now a Pennsylvania Boy Scout troop will be part of those festivities.
Boy Scout Troop 358 will participate next month in the historic presidential inaugural parade in Washington.
“It’s amazing to me,” said 16-year-old senior patrol leader Derrick Kershaw, grinning in braces near a buffet table at Wednesday evening’s scout holiday party.
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After Barack Obama’s victory, his mother, Suzanne, was scouring the Internet for inauguration tickets for her family when she came across an opportunity for scouts to actually be in the parade.
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For generations, Troop 358 has celebrated proud milestones. It’s one of the oldest African American troops in the country, according to the Congressional Record. And in its 54 years, 52 members have risen to Eagle Scout, with four on the horizon.
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Two weeks ago, the scouts received the news. Out of about 1,400 applicants, their troop would be in the parade, on an official float, in full uniform.
“It feels great,” echoed Terrell Barringer, 17, a star quarterback at Dobbins High and soon-to-be Eagle Scout.
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“It definitely inspires them,” said scoutmaster Brian Wallace, 31. “It gives them a sense of the opportunities that scouting provides.”
The troop’s next challenge: travel, lodging and food.
During Wednesday’s party, the chairman of the troop committee, Charles Whiting – who is also principal of Dobbins High School – told the boys that they won’t spend a night in a hotel. Instead, their bus will likely leave Philadelphia at midnight to beat the expected gridlock. The scouts will basically live on the bus until showtime, possibly putting some of those merit badges to use.
The boys also need new duds – Boy Scout uniforms have just been redesigned. Since the weather in January is “iffy,” Whiting suggested that parents buy larger shirts to leave room for layers.
With uniforms costing about $100, Whiting has arranged for Dobbins fashion students to sew badges and hem cuffs.
“We’re going to make sure you don’t have to suffer too much,” he told parents.
The trip will cost another $100 for expenses such as food and transportation. How to raise the money will be discussed at the scout meeting early next month.
What a great opportunity! Congratulations to Troop 358 on Germantown, Pennsylvania!
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One Comment so far...
» Scoutreach Brings Cubs to Obama’s Inaugural Says:
14 January 2009 at 2:56 pm.
[...] to see President-elect Obama when he drops the “elect” from his title. Similar to the Pennsylvania group I talked about before, this group of Scouts are excited to witness [...]
