1.
Pack and Troop meetings provide a wonderful opportunity to feature citizenship
building activities:
a.
Flag ceremonies: Use flag
ceremonies to open and/or close meetings. Try a flag ceremony commemorating a
special holiday such as Veteran's Day or Memorial Day where the Scouts write a
script telling what the flag means to them. Try a simple Pledge of Allegiance
ceremony or one featuring the placement of the flags followed by the Cub Scout
Promise or Cub Scout Law of the Pack or the Scout Oath and Law.
Try
a flag ceremony with the reading of an inspirational quotation. Some sample
quotations follow:
"The
flag of the American Union is a visible symbol of the ideal aspirations of the
American people. It is the one focus in which all unite in reverential
devotion." Maj. Gen. Arthur MacArthur.
"This flag means more than association and reward. It is the symbol of our
national unity, our national endeavor, our national aspiration. It tells you of
the struggle for independence, of union preserved, of liberty and union one and
inseparable, of the sacrifices of brave men and women to whom the ideals and
honor of this Nation have been dearer than life." Charles Evans Hughes.
"When I think of the flag . . . I see alternate strips of parchment upon which
are written the rights of liberty and justice, and stripes of blood to vindicate
those rights, and then, in the corner, a prediction of the blue serene into
which every nation may swim which stands for these great things." Woodrow
Wilson, President of the United States.
b.
Patriotic songs:
1]
Try an opening with:
a] The Star Spangled Banner;
b] America;
c] America, the Beautiful;. or
d] God Bless America.
2] For a closing song, you could use any of the above or you could
use Taps for a closing ceremony retiring the flag.
c.
Recognition of service to the community:
When your Scouts give service to the community, recognize their efforts.
Present them with a momento or certificate recognizing their efforts to be
better citizens. Remind them and their parents that part of good citizenship is
being responsible for the welfare of the community and that service is evidence
of good citizenship.
d.
Displays and demonstrations:
The sky is the limit here!
1] Flag Displays
You could have a display of all of our past national, state and
local flags.
2] Historical Documents
Another approach would be to display the Declaration of
Independence or exerpts from the Constitution.
3] Voting Rights and Community Responsibility
Still another approach would be to have posters showing how to
use voting machines and others reminding parents and community members to get
out and vote. Other posters could emphasize the "unacceptables" in Scouting;
e.g., illiteracy, drug abuse, child abuse, etc. Or you could display letters
written by Scouts to local community leaders on issues of interest (this will
also help Scouts fulfill one of the requirements for Citizenship in the
Community Merit Badge).
4] Poster Contest
Have a poster making contest with a citizenship theme; e.g.
"Duty to Country", and ask the Pack or Troop to vote on best poster (recognizing
each contributor). Use your imagination and there will be no limit to displays
you can make.
5] Flag Folding Demonstration & An Illustrated Flag Ceremony
Similarly, demonstrations are easy. A Den or Patrol could
demonstrate how to fold the flag, another could do a "talk-through flag
ceremony" explaining each step.
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