House Joint Resolution No. 874, offered February 9, 2009, commended the Virginia councils of the Boy Scouts of America. Its wording may be adapted for use in other states.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 874

Offered February 9, 2009

Commending Virginia Councils of the Boy Scouts of America.

Patrons—Janis, Bell, Englin and Scott, E.T.

WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts program was established in England in 1907 by Lord Robert Baden-Powell and currently serves 28 million Scouts and their leaders in 155 countries around the globe; and

WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts of America was founded by a group of visionary Americans led by William D. Boyce, on February 8, 1910, in Washington, D.C.; was chartered by the United States Congress on June 15, 1916; and since 1911, when Richmond Troop #1 was chartered by Tabernacle Church, Scouting has been serving the youth of the Commonwealth of Virginia for over 98 years; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices throughout their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law, including a commitment to do their best to do their duty to God and their country, and to keep themselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight; and

WHEREAS, the nine Boy Scout councils serving all or part of the Commonwealth, including the Blue Ridge Mountains Council, Colonial Virginia Council, DeIMarVA Council, Heart of Virginia Council, National Capital Area Council, Sequoyah Council, Shenandoah Council, Stonewall Jackson Area Council, and Tidewater Council serve over 100,000 young Virginians between the ages of 7 and 20 in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, and Exploring and Learning for Life programs; and

WHEREAS, Scouting programs emphasize character development by affording young people unique and increasing opportunities to exercise leadership and responsibility and by the direct example of cheerful service provided by more than 35,000 volunteer adult leaders; and

WHEREAS, in 2008 Virginia Scouts contributed more than 350,000 hours of community service through projects such as Scouting for Food, Good Turn for America, Habitat for Humanity, and other unit and individual service projects; and

WHEREAS, in 2008 more than 70,000 Virginia youth participated in outdoor recreation and educational programs, many for the first time in their lives, through the various units, camps, and facilities of the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, in 2008 Virginia Scouts earned more than 67,000 merit badges, and 1,500 young Virginians reached Scouting’s pinnacle of achievement by earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout; and

WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts of America enjoys a sustained record of proven success in producing leaders for our Commonwealth and our nation who are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That, on this 11th day of February 2009 and the 99th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia Councils of the Boy Scouts of America for service to our youth and our citizens; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the council Scout executives in Virginia as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for the organization’s commitment to building character and values in our youth.