EAGLE COURT OF HONOR PROGRAM FOR DEREK D.W. WONG
ADRIAN IMUS: Good evening and welcome to Troop 616 Eagle Court of Honor. I’m Adrian Imus, the assistant Senior Patrol Leader. At this time will you please stand for the presentation of colors….. Advance the colors (when the color guard reaches its position, turn and face the audience.)
Will the audience join us in the Pledge of Allegiance (Say the Pledge of Allegiance)
Scouts salute…..Two….Post the colors…..Color Guard retreat.
At this time I would like to call upon _____________________ to give the invocation.
ADRIAN IMUS…It is my honor to introduce to you our Special Guests for this evening.
Will all Eagle Scouts, including adult eagles, please stand and be recognized….
Please join me in recognizing their achievement. (Applaud)
Thankyou …. You may be seated.
We have a number of honored guests in the audience whom I would like to introduce. Please stand and be recognized:
(add or delete depending on attendance)
Derek’s former Teachers at St. Louis: Mr. Jeff Judd; Mr. Ochner;
Mr. Patrick Fujioka; Ms. Anne Kawai
Mr. Burton Tomita, Principal of St. Louis School
Derek’s former Scoutmasters for Troop 616: Mr. Sterling Leong;
Mr. Earl Pfeiffer ; Mr. Gilbert Jose & Assistant Scoutmaster Mr. Denard Byrd.
Mr. John Reitz, Kapiolani District Commissioner
Mr. Michael Braham, Kapiolani District Executive
Mrs. Alice Watanabe, Kapiolani District Advancement Chairperson
Mr. Mark Moore, Past Exalted Ruler for the Elks Lodge 616.
Mr. Teru Yasuda, Secretary for Elks Lodge 616.
Mr. Robert Nakagawa, Ko’olau District Executive
Thankyou for joining us this evening….. Please be seated.
At this time I would like to introduce the Chairperson for this Court, Mrs. Alana Imus committee Chairperson for Troop 616.
ALANA IMUS: Good evening. By the authority vested in me by the Boy Scouts of America, I now declare this Eagle Scout Court of Honor officially open. In recognition of Derek Wong’s efforts, we now present the “Trail of the Eagle.” (stay at or off to the side of the podium)
(Assign scout to light candles)
Will the Eagle Escorts please bring Eagle Candidate Derek Wong to the
Front. (pause) This is the voice of the Eagle, the Eagle whose heights you
have struggled hard to reach. We remember well when you first came to the
base of the cliff, and how you looked up with ambition and determination.
Look back for a moment: Look down the cliff you have climbed; look at the
Experiences you have encountered in your ascent. These experiences do not
occur again. Experience is a valuable teacher, if you heed its teachings.
We remember when you took your first step upon the trail that leads upward.
With that first step you began to grow physically, mentally, and morally.
You started living the Scout Oath and Law.
All the while you were on the trail, we watched you study and we saw you
Learn by doing. First, you were only a Scout (light candle). At that time your brothers called you “Tenderfoot”.
Soon, you reached the first ledge, and there you were greeted by a large group of Second Class Scouts (light candle).
Some , like you, were stopping to catch their breath before continuing on along the trail. You began to study more, you worked harder, and almost before you knew it you came to another ledge….. the ledge where the First Class Scouts dwell (light candle).
There you found a tempting green meadow by a crystal-clear stream bathed in the sun. Here you were tempted to remain. Yes, you could have remained there to live the First Class glory, but your ambition stirred you on. We remembered your advancement to Star Scout. The trail from First Class to Star rank was not as difficult as it had seemed. This inspired you on, and again you climbed further up (light candle).
The trail was steeper and less worn. Fewer scouts seemed to be headed in your direction. You looked down and saw the crowds below you. You looked up and saw a few above you and, with the same determination with which you started your climb, you continued up the trail. Soon, you earned the badge of Life Rank (light candle).
The Heart Badge was then placed on your uniform. You will never forget your thoughts at that moment. This feeling has been experienced by all Scouts on reaching the ledge of Life Scout: “Now I am close to the Eagle, I will carry on.”
The trail became tougher, but more interesting. The original principles, the Scout Oath and Law, now had a fuller meaning. Your understanding of them was greater.
Yes , we have watched your character unfold and become more manly. We have watched your leadership expand into a valuable asset. We have watched your mind develop and your wisdom increase. We have watched all these things in you and now that you are on the threshold of your goal we
welcome you, for you have done your climbing in a true Scoutlike manner.
This is the voice of the Eagle.
It is the culmination of efforts of the various leaders of this scout. The Eagle Award is the highest and most coveted rank in Scouting. It is the last major step in the advancement program.
At this point, we trust you have achieved our purpose in the building of character, training of leadership, and the practice of service.
Eagle candidate, Derek Wong has passed all the requirements for the rank of Eagle. He has earned 23 merit badges which have been approved and certified by the counselors appointed by the court.
He has demonstrated his capacity and willingness to exert leadership in activities that are constructive and worthwhile in this community. He has completed a service project for the Variety School and has served his troop as a leader. He has sat before the Eagle Board of Review, and his records have been checked and passed on by the Aloha Council and the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. We believe him qualified to receive the rank of Eagle Scout (remain at podium or off to the side).
This is the voice of the Eagle. I speak for the Eagle Scouts of this council.
While we are pleased to recognize the awarding of this badge, we must insist this candidate stands ready now to accept the challenges and responsiblities as well as the honors of the Eagle Scout rank. We will now re-state the responsibilites of an Eagle Scout: These responsibilities are as follows: An Eagle Scout is to Live with Honor. The white of your badge signifies this virtue, for the first responsibility of an Eagle Scout is to live honorably. An Eagle’s honor is sacred. It is the foundation of all character. And character is what one really is; not what one thinks he is. An Eagle’s life should influence his family, church, school, and friends in a positive manner. May the white of your badge remind you to live with honor always. (pause to allow Scout to display white cloth)
An Eagle Scout must be loyal. This obligation is represented in the blue of your badge. Without loyalty, all character lacks direction. In the words of the great bard: “To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou can’st not then be false to any man” Neither pain nor profit, pride or personal loss shall sway his loyalty. Let the blue on your badge be your emblem of loyalty.
(pause to allow Scout to display blue cloth).
An Eagle Scout is Courageous. This third obligation is symbolized by the red in your badge. Courage gives character, force and strength. Trusting in God and with faith in your fellow man, face each day unafraid and seek your share of the world’s work to do. Let the red of your badge remind you of courage. (pause to allow Scout to display red cloth).
Finally, an Eagle Scout is Service-oriented. He extends a helping hand to those who toil along the Scouting trail, just as others helped him in his achievement of the Eagle rank. The habit of the daily Good Turn must now take on a new meaning through a life of service to all those who need you. Protect and defend the weak and helpless; Aid and comfort the unfortunate and oppressed. Uphold the rights of others as well as you defend your own.
Remember always that real leadership is founded not upon self-interest but community service.
Eagle Scout candidate DEREK D.W. WONG, are you willing and eager to accept the responsibilities as well as the honor of the badge of an Eagle Scout?
DEREK WONG: I am
ALANA IMUS - Will Mr. Robert Hochstein, Scoutmaster of Troop 616 please come forward to present the Eagle Scout Award. Will the Eagle escort please bring the Eagle candidate’s father, Carrington Wong and his mother, Josephine Wong, to the front. (as they come up you may be seated at your table)
Robert Hochstein – Derek, in recognition of the obligations of an Eagle Scout, I ask you to reaffirm the Scout Oath ……
With the Scout sign, please repeat after me…….
On my honor (repeat)……I will do my best (repeat)
To do my duty (repeat)….. To God and my country (repeat)
And to obey the Scout law (repeat)….
To help other people at all time (repeat)
To keep myself physically strong (repeat)
Mentally awake, and morally straight (repeat)
The symbol of success is the Eagle badge. In recognition of fatherly
advice and guidance along the trail to the Eagle rank, I will ask your father to pin the badge of the Eagle Scout over your heart. (He will now place the
Eagle Scout neckerchief around your neck).
Eagle Scout Derek Wong, in recognition of the wisdom and guidance given to you by your father, will you present to him this Eagle’s father’s pin.
And now, also in recognition of the many hours and patient guidance and unnumbered acts of self-sacrifice from your mother, the Court now ask that you present your mom with the miniature of the Eagle pin.
Scoutmaster Robert Hochstein will now present Derek with the Official Eagle Scout certificate and membership card.
Will the Eagle escort please escort Derek’s parents to their seats.
Mr. Mark Moore, past-Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge 616 will now make the Elks Lodge presentation.
(Elks Lodge presentation by Mark Moore)
ALANA IMUS – I would like to call upon Mr. John Reitz, Kapiolani District Commissioner, to give the Eagle Challenge and Charge (may be seated at your table)
(CHALLENGE AND CHARGE TO THE EAGLE SCOUT BY Mr. JOHN REITZ)
JOHN REITZ – Derek Wong, I have the honor to give you the Eagle Scout Charge on this occasion of your elevation to the highest rank in scouting.
The Boy Scouts of all nations constitute one of the most meaningful and significant movements in the world’s history, and you have been found worthy of the highest rank in its membership. All who know you rejoice in your achievement. Your position, as you well know, is one of honor and responsibility. As an Eagle Scout, you have assumed a solemn obligation to do your duty to God, to country, to your fellow Scouts, and others. This is a great undertaking . You will live up to these obligations and bring honor to yourself and your brother Scouts. Your responsibility goes beyond your fellow Scouts, to God and your country. America has many good things to give you and those who follow you, but these good things depend, for the most part, on the character and leadership abilities of her citizens. You come to help her in all that she needs most. You are here to help make her future greater.
I charge you to undertake your citizenship with a solemn dedication. Be a leader, but lead only toward the best. Lift up every task you do and every office you hold to the highest level of service. By your doing so, all may live better.
ALANA IMUS
– Scouts, Scouters, honored guests, scout parents and friends, I now have the
privilege of presenting Eagle Scout Derek Wong to you. (If he
doesn’t move towards the podium… give him a cue that it is his turn to speak)
(THE EAGLE’S RESPONSE BY DEREK WONG)
ALANA IMUS – I now declare this Court of Honor closed. Please rise for the Benediction and Retiring of the flags.
ADRIAN IMUS –
(Dim all lights)
As the flames from the candle point upward, so be our aim.
May the Great Master of all Scouts be with us until we meet again.
Will the Color Guards retire the flags.
At this time I would like to call upon ____________________ to give the benediction.
ALANA IMUS - (after flags have left the room) …. We invite you to join us in giving congratulations to Derek Wong as well as to join us for dinner.
Please go up and help yourself. Would members of the Aloha Council, Mr. Moore, Mr. Hocstein and Derek’s former scoutmasters please come to the stage area for a group picture.