The Scoutmaster’s Minute ~ January 2007

A Scout is Loyal

What does it mean to be Loyal? What is Loyalty? Webster’s Dictionary says: loyal, Main Entry: loy•al, Pronunciation: 'loi(-&)l, Function: adjective, Etymology: Middle French, from Old French leial, leel, from Latin legalis legal 1 : unswerving in allegiance: as a : faithful in allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government b : faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due c : faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product 2 : showing loyalty

So A Scout should always be Loyal. Loyal to whom? First and foremost, as is in our Oath, a Scout should be Loyal to our Lord God and our God Fearing Country. Without that Loyalty, how can anyone be truly and faithfully Loyal to any group or cause? The cornerstone of our Faith, Loyalty and of our entire Scouting life should be built on God and Country. God for one, is the number one most important relationship in our life. After that, all other Loyalties should fall into place, if you are committed to it.

Next, Being Loyal as a Scout means to respect your adult leaders, your Scouting Unit and the Chartering Organization that, by their grace solely, has blessed your Troop with existence. This is the practice of showing respect for your adult leaders and a deep loving desire to do what is best for the growth and success of your Boy Scout Troop and the public opinion of the Boy Scout Movement in general.

Being Loyal does not create personal reward. It is not about you. It is about the person or group that you are being Loyal to. Loyalty cannot be achieved if you are looking for personal reward or glory. If you carry a personal private agenda you have lost site of Loyalty. A Scout is Loyal. It is the 2nd point of our law. Do not take it lightly.

Without your adult leaders, your Troop would not exist. Without your support of the Troop, with ONLY its best health and longevity at the center of your heart’s desire, the Unit will not continue. Is that a big deal? Well it is to the young boy that would have joined us next year or the next. In fact, we have been blessed to have had adult leaders join us that were members of the Troop as youth. To them and their Son’s I think it is really a Big deal.

Without Being Loyal, How can you continue in Scouting? What would an Eagle Scout do?

Until next Time … Yours in Scouting.

John R. (Rusty) Helms
Scoutmaster, Troop 69