20 February 2009
Hardball’s Matthew and Rep. Murtha Honor Boy Scout Volunteer
Posted by admin under: recognition .
For those worried about the destruction of the Boy Scouts of America now that the Democrats control all the federal branches of government, there is good news. Chris Matthews from MSNBC’s Hardball program who enthusiastically supported President Obma in his bid for the White House and Democratic Congressman John Murtha from Pennsylvania both recently attended a Boy Scouts of America dinner to honor a local Scouter. Frank Sojack relates the details in the appropriately named newspaper, The Tribune-Democrat.
More than 375 people on Thursday night helped the Penn’s Woods Council of the Boy Scouts of America applaud a Johnstown-area man for his service to the community and to honor Scouting.
The annual Harry E. Mangle Memorial Dinner was held at the Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown.
Edward J. Sheehan Jr., president and chief executive officer of Concurrent Technologies Corp. in Richland Township, was honored by the Scouts as the Distinguished Citizen for 2009.
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The keynote speaker for the event was Chris Matthews, a television news commentator, former speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter and a former Boy Scout.
Matthews donated his services to speak because of his strong belief in the Boy Scouts.
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Matthews told the crowd that the Boys Scouts are doing the right thing.
He showed the crowd awards that he earned as a Scout.
Matthews, whose grandfather grew up in Latrobe, said Scouting teaches young men that “there are other things to growing up besides school and organized athletic events.”
He said that Murtha “has real friends on both sides of the aisle – real friends.”
In a Boy Scouts’ press conference at Pasquerilla Plaza prior to the banquet, Matthews said the Boy Scouts sparked his interest in politics.
Matthews, who had been an aide to the late speaker of the house, Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, said the Scouts, by instilling the importance of good citizenship in boys, showed him the way into politics.
Matthews also revealed his Boy Scout rank in this story from Dan DiPaolo.
“I was Life, I’ll be glad to show you my documentation,” he said, holding up a number of merit badges during the press conference for the 39th Annual Greater Johnstown Partners for Scouting Harry E. Mangle Memorial Dinner.
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Matthews, who grew up in the Philadelphia area, remembered Scouting as weekend camping trips with his father, campfire songs, parading out of dinner and bug juice.
“I loved Scouts,” he said. “I think it was important because it was an activity that was besides sports and besides school.”
Scouting also put him on the path to politics, his passion and his job, he said. His first and favorite merit badge remains Citizenship of the Nation.
So how did he end up in Johnstown for dinner? “I’m here because of Jack Murtha,” he said.
Matthews first met the long-time Johnstown Democrat as a staff member for the late House Speaker Tip O’Neill in 1981. Murtha and O’Neill had a long-standing friendship and working relationship.
“I love Jack Murtha,” Matthews said. “He reminds me so much of my grand-pop. He’s immensely popular on the floor. He’s the guy people go to.”
Murtha and his wife are also supporters of the Girl Scouts of the USA I found out previously.
- Girl Scouts for John Murtha?
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