Boy Scouts celebrate 100 years with candle ceremony

Franklin — The Boy Scouts of America celebrates its 100 Anniversary on Feb. 8, 2010 and Scouts nationwide are busy planning activities commemorating the founding of the movement, which is now one of the nation’s largest youth development organizations. Patriot’s Path Council, Sussex District, Wallkill Valley Area Scouts will celebrate with a candle lighting ceremony Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. for all Scouts, current and alumni, at Hardyston Elementary School on Route 23 in Franklin. According to local Scoutmasters, Boy Scouts of America is: “working hard to make sure the youth of tomorrow are prepared for what awaits them.” They also point out that within a span of 100 years, the name Boy Scouts has become a paradigm for a good turn and the ideal of community service. A little history The idea for the Boy Scouts of America began in 1909, when William D. Boyce, an American businessman, was lost in a London fog. A young boy found Boyce and led him to his destination. Boyce offered to tip the young man for his service, but the boy refused, saying he was a Scout and could not accept payment for a Good Turn. The businessman later asked the boy to introduce him to Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting in England and publisher of the handbook “Scouting for Boys.” The groundwork to bring Scouting to America had been laid. Boyce established the Boy Scouts of America on Feb. 8, 1910, with the help of Baden-Powell, wildlife author and illustrator Ernest Thompson Seton, naturalist Daniel Carter Beard and attorney James E. West. More the 100 million people participate in Boy Scouting on adult and youth levels. For more information on how to join Scouting visit www.beascout.org.