When Robert Baden-Powell brought 22 boys to a camp off the coast of England in the late 19th Century, and thus became the founder of worldwide scouting, he was developing some of his country’s most important resources: the character and potential of youth. Some years later, American publisher and explorer William D. Boyce became disoriented in a dense London fog. A British Boy Scout guided Boyce back to his destination and explained that the good deed was merely his duty as a Scout. Boyce began to explore the principles of scouting and went on to found the Boy Scouts of America. In 1910, Ernest Thompson Seton, who had shared ideas and writings with Baden-Powell, became the first Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of America.

                                    A Century of Service
The collaborative work of these men laid the foundation for worldwide scouting as we know it today. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. Today the organization stands strong with 2.8 million youth members and 1.2 million volunteers. Every day, scouting principles are demonstrated through the small – though hardly insignificant – good deeds and acts of kindness that Boy Scouts do during the course of daily life. A century after the organization’s founding, Scouts continue to make an impact by helping the needy, cleaning up and beautifying their communities, supporting our military, and undertaking countless other service projects.

Scouting has become an important part of life for many young Americans, helping them develop character, train to be good citizens, and lead healthy and productive lives. Baden-Powell wrote the fundamentals of scouting principle into the Scout Law: “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” A Scout pledges to do his duty to God and country, to obey the Scout Law, to help others, and to be “physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

                                   A Legacy of Leadership
By following these principles, many Boy Scouts have become leaders in their communities and have made important contributions as scholars, businessmen, coaches, teachers, public servants, and more. Over 200 former Boy Scouts or scout leaders serve in Congress today. Eighteen of our Presidents have been involved in scouting.

The core value of patriotism is also evident in the number of Scouts who serve in our military. More than 35 percent of West Point cadets were once Boy Scouts. Over 30 percent of Air Force Academy cadets were involved in scouting, along with a quarter of all Naval Academy midshipmen. Well over half of American astronauts were Boy Scouts. Clearly, all these brave men have taken their duty to America very seriously and have made it part of their lives’ work.

I am proud to be part of three generations of scouting. My father was a Scout Counselor for the Yocona Area Council. In my youth, I belonged to Cub Scout Pack 30 and Boy Scout Troop 95, where I developed many of the principles that have guided me into public service. Carrying on the tradition is my son, McDaniel, who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 2003. We are privileged to be counted among the thousands of boys and men in Mississippi who have been members or have volunteered in one of our state’s eight local Boy Scout councils. Some of my proudest moments as a lawmaker have been participating in ceremonies to honor young Mississippians who have reached the goal of Eagle Scout or have earned other merits and distinctions. This encourages me to see our state’s young men live out the Scout Law and become men of integrity and leadership.

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