U. S. Scouting Service Project at http://www.usscouts.org


WEBELOS

Citizen

Heart of America Council

The Webelos leader should plan carefully so that boys get a feeling for the real meaning of citizenship without spending a lot of time in study. There are various ways to do this. You might give them the opportunity to get a close look at government by planning a field trip to a local government agency or court. One of the best ways to stress the meaning of good citizenship is by practicing the good turn. This should be a "must" for every boy. Working on this badge can be exciting, fun and informative, or it can be just more reports to write.

Information Every Citizen Should Know

Heart of America Council

Who Succeeds the President? Everyone knows that in the case of the death of the President, the vice-president would take over the presidency. However, what happens if the vice-president also dies?

Congress dealt with this issue in the 1940's and decided that the following people should take over the Presidency in the order given:

President

Vice-President

Speaker of the House of Representatives

President pro tempore of the Senate

Secretary of State

Secretary of Treasury

Secretary of Defense

Attorney General

Postmaster General

Secretary of the Interior

Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Labor

This succession was established by an Act of Congress on July 18, 1947.

Opening Ceremony

Greater St. Louis Area Council

Have seven cards with one of each of the following letters, C-I-T-I-Z-E-N printed on them with the message for each letter on the back of the card.

C - CHOICE

As Americans wwe have the freedon of choice where we live and how we live

I INDIVIUAL

Each of us had the freedom and the right to be ourselves

T- TOGETHER

Fifty separate states form one united nation.

I - INDEPENCE

Our forefathers fought for our freedom to be an independent nation.

Z - ZEAL

Our devotion or duty to God, our country and ourselves.

E - ELECTION

As Americans, we have the right to elect leaders to office who will serve our needs.

N - NATION

The United States of America, our home.

Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Don Bohnwagner a scouter sent this to me. This is an excellent history of our American Flag.

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Slowly, as a result of wars and purchases, the United Kingdom became the ruler of what was to become the thirteen colonies The British Red Ensign was the flag that flew over the colonies in the New World from 1634 to the start of the War for Independence in 1775. The Red Ensign was a red flag with the Crosses of St. Andrew and George on a blue ensign.

"The United Colonies of America"

After fighting the early months of the war under flag of communities, militia group, and individuals, George Washington proposed that we have a flag of our own. He suggested that we overlay six white stripes on the red of the Red Ensign. It became the Flag of the "United Colonies of America". It was carried on the Flagship "Alfred" by Lt. John Paul Jones on December 3, 1775. And was hoisted at the encampment on Prospect Hill in Cambridge Massachusetts on January 2, 1776 when General George Washington took command of the Continental army.

"Stars and Stripes"

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This 13-Star Flag became the Official Flag of The United States on June 14, 1777 as the result of congressional action that took place on that date. The Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia decided that the new nation should have a distinctive flag. It resolved "That the flag of the thirteen United States be 13 stripes, alternately red and white -- That the union be 13 stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation." Francis Hopkinson was a delegate from New Jersey to the Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a member of the Maritime Committee. It was one of the Maritime Committee’s assignment to recommend designs for a new flag for the United States of America. After the war, Mr. Hopkinson submitted a bill to Congress for the designs of currency, the Great Seal of the United States, a treasury seal, and for a flag. His flag design had thirteen alternating red and white stripes and a blue field containing thirteen white stars in the same configuration of the Rhode Island Flag (3-2-3-2-3). Many vexillologists believe Mr. Hopkinson’s flag was the First Official Flag of the United States of America. Because of its colors and stars and stripes, it was known as "The Red, White, and Blue" and "The Stars and Strips".

"The Star Spangled Banner"

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On January 13, 1794, the thirteen stars and stripe flag was replaced with a flag of fifteen stars and stripes. The two additional stars and stripes were added to represent the new states of Vermont and Kentucky. It was this flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the British bombardment on September 13th and 14th in 1814. It inspired a young Washington lawyer named Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became our National Anthem as a result our flag had another name "The Star Spangled Banner".

"Old Glory"

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On July 4, 1822, the 24-star flag became the sixth "Stars and Stripes" to fly over the United States of America. "Old Glory", at first was a single flag the bore the name now familiar to us all. The flag belonged to Sea Captain William Driver. He received the flag in 1824. At that time he was about to sail from his homeport of Salem Massachusetts, on one of the trips that took him around the world. From that date on, the flag went with him on his ship "Charles Doggett" whenever he went.

In 1837, after countless voyages, Captain Driver retired from the sea and went to live Nashville Tennessee. Of course, he took his flag with him and displayed it on holidays and on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th, his birthday as well). He and his flag became well known in Nashville.

When to Civil War broke out those who hoisted American Flags in Nashville were attacked by Southern sympathizers. Confederate soldiers searched Driver’s home on several occasions for his flag, but never found it. When Union forces entered the city, Driver ripped open a bedspread and revealed his flag that had escaped any harm. Seeing it float from the top of the Capitol building in Nashville, Driver declared "I am ready to meet my forefathers knowing ‘Old Glory’ and Tennessee have been saved for the Union".

After the war, the story of Captain Driver’s flag and its name spread by word of mouth and in books and newspapers. Although there is doubt about whatever happened to Old Glory, its name lives in the hearts of Americans.

"Our Flag"

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Today, whatever you choose to call it, it has 50 stars one for each state of the Union. It is the 27th Official Flag of the United States of America -- Our Flag.

About The Author

Donald R. (Don) Bohnwagner Sr. is an Active Member of the North America Vexillological Association and New England Vexillological Association, a Standard Bearer of the National Flag Foundation, and a Patron Member of the Flag Research Center.

His interest in flags dates back to the spring of 1952, when his sixth grade teacher gave him a copy of a textbook that was being discontinued by the school system. The book was "The Story Of The American Flag" by Wayne Whipple. The book along with the fact that Don was born on June 14 1940, Flag Day, sparked an interest in the history of "Old Glory".

This spark smoldered until it became rekindled as a Boy Scout Leader in 1974. At that time one of the requirements for boy to become a Tenderfoot Scout was to "Describe and give a short history of the American Flag". As a visual aid to help boys better understand this requirement, Don purchased reproductions of the five flags -- The Queen Anne, Grand Union, Betsy Ross, Star Spangled Banner, and The Flag of 1818. From that point, his collection grew to include many reproductions of historic flags. Those of the Early Explorers of the "New World", the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War.

Because of his knowledge and collection, Don has been invited to speak before Scouting groups and other civic organizations. From those speaking opportunities, he has developed a series of multi-media presentations called "Flags Over America".

"Call Me What You May ...

I Am Your Flag"

Don Bohnwagner, Sr.

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Since its birth on June 14, 1777, our Flag has been called by many names. Whether you call it "The Red, White, and Blue", "The Stars and Stripes", "The Star Spangled Banner", or "Old Glory", it is the symbol of our country and of all that the United States of America has been, is, and will always be. It is Our Flag -- God Bless America.

We All Scream for Ice Cream

Viking Council

Ice cream was invented in Italy in the 16th century, but when Dolly Madison, wife of James Madison (the fourth President_, served it at the White House it was still considered a delicacy. Since that time, ice cream has become America's favorite dessert, as evidenced by 1989 average consumption of 16 pounds per person per year! One third of all ice cream sold is vanilla, followed closely by chocolate and strawberry.

For your pack meeting help plan a patriotic ice cream social. Arrange for ice cream machines, electric or hand crankers, and have the ingredients all ready to mix when the pack meeting begins.

Serve in small sundae cups. (Find a local business willing to donate them.)

Tell It Like It Is

Viking Council

Send a den letter to the President of the USA!


The President and Mrs. Clinton
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

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