Zachary Brehm, left, and William Finn salute during the Cub Scout Pack 89 Blue and Gold Banquet on Friday night at Yongsan Garrison. Both boys "crossed over" from the Cub Scouts to the Boy Scouts during the ceremony. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
Zachary Brehm, left, and William Finn salute during the Cub Scout Pack 89 Blue and Gold Banquet on Friday night at Yongsan Garrison. Both boys "crossed over" from the Cub Scouts to the Boy Scouts during the ceremony. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
A group of younger Cub Scouts earn rank advancements. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Fifteen U.S. Cub Scouts from Pack 89 took a big step in their continuing scouting adventure by “crossing over” into the Boy Scouts in front of about 200 people on Friday night.
All fifteen received their Arrow of Light rank — the highest in Cub Scouting — during the more than two-hour Blue and Gold Banquet at the Dragon Hill Lodge. Four others also received the Arrow of Light, but will move to Boy Scouts later in the year.
The ceremony also marked the 78th anniversary of the Cub Scouts and the 98th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.
Zach Brehm, one of the Webelo 1 Cub Scouts to cross over, said he was excited about the prospect.
“It’s been ... well, it’s been five years,” he said of his time with the Cub Scouts. “Tonight I’m going to be a Boy Scout and I’ll try to be an Eagle Scout.”
The Cub Scouts are put into categories based on age and the youngest, Tigers from Den 6 and Den 11, opened the ceremony with a Chinese dragon dance.
Pack Cubmaster Bill Finn narrated a series of rank advancements for the younger Cubs before introducing guest speaker U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Al Aycock, director of the Installation Management Command-Korea Region and a former Eagle Scout.
Aycock made a special thanks to the often behind-the-scenes work of the Scouts’ mothers, telling a series of Jeff Foxworthy-inspired jokes.
“If you’re husband can’t tell the difference between Chanel No. 5,” and a can of mosquito repellant, Aycock joked, “you might be a Cub Scout mom.”
The general also shared his own experiences as a Scout, including a five-day, 100-mile hike he went on as an 11-year-old. Even though he almost quit, he said the wise words of his Scout leader kept him going.
“You can do it, one step at a time,” was the leader’s mantra, Aycock said.
He also told the boys that they were part of an elite group: only two out of every 1,000 boys in America becomes a Scout, he told them. And only three of every 100 Scouts becomes an Eagle Scout.
Aycock also pointed out that of the 300 male astronauts who have flown in space, 201 were Scouts and 41 of those were Eagle Scouts.
“Always, always, always encourage your boys,” he told the parents before grabbing his guitar and belting out a couple of Scout camping songs.
He had one final message before leaving the stage.
“One step at a time — be an Eagle,” he shouted.
Rising in the ranksThe following Cub Scouts earned their Arrow of Light rank and crossed over to the Boy Scouts on Friday night:
Jacob AndersonMichael AucoinChristen BlackZachary BrehmWilliam FinnPatrick HanMikey HardinDaniel HaywoodJacob HochhauslerJared HorneScott HowardPhilip LimEric PutmanJack SiglerJack WeigoldThe following Cub Scouts earned their Arrow of Light rank but delayed crossing over to the Boy Scouts until later this year:
