When the Lions Club decided to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop, Clinton Troop 35, Gilbert Hess volunteered to be the Scoutmaster. As he had no background in scouting I agreed to be an assistant for a year to get him started. That year turned out to be a bit more than a year. It is hard to separate from 20+- young men who prove they are the cream of the crop.
They, every one, applied themselves to every challenge they could find.
Our first camp out was to the Bugg brothers farm east of Clinton near Croley. We got there after school and after we had supper we had them keep the camp fire fed until dusk. Having just organized we had been using a flag left from the Explorer Post and it was time to retire it. They placed the spit over the fire and stood at rest facing the fire. The flag was taken down and the officers placed it on the spit over the coals of the fire. When she started burning, I heard a sniff, sniff from the back of the group and a quiet voice said, “Sniff, sniff that is cruel.” It is a sad occasion to anyone who loves our country and flag but it is to be retired by burning in a quiet private ceremony and never to touch the ground. After burning the ashes are to be buried with honor.
The next morning they raised the new American flag presented to the troop by the Woodmen of the World.
The ones to do the learning though were Gilbert and me. When we held a meeting to see if any young men wanted to be in scouting there were about twenty boys and several of the parents who showed up. We had to have a troop but we wondered what we were getting into. Most of them had hair nearly as long as the hippies of my generation who were, to say the least, bad examples of society. We were so wrong. These were the cream of the crop, one and all.
I have often said that they reminded me of something I read in an opinion piece in a paper once. This is not an exact quote but the meaning is here. The author said the current crop of kids will be the ruin of us all. They are long haired and will be the end of civil society. He then mentioned that he was quoting Ben Franklin in “Poor Richards Almanac.” Ben Franklin mentioned that he was quoting Aristotle in his piece. So it seems that every generation of boys will let their hair grow out if dad’s hair is short and cut it short if his is long. Regardless it teaches us that we should never judge by appearance. My dad’s hair was not over the ears but long by military standards so we got crew cuts. I even got a Mohawk which did not please my dad. At the dinner table he brought his old white navy hat and I had to turn it down and wear it at mealtime until my hair suited him. Yes families did eat together at the table back then.
In finishing I have to say I have never known a better, more disciplined and likeable group of boys. I jokingly say sometimes that Gilbert and I only saw one failure and he became a teacher. Now he is Superintendent of Hickman County Schools. I only hope they all stay in touch with each other.
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