Vista-Lewisboro Pack 101 Cub Scouts Hold Blue and Gold Dinner

Vista-Lewisboro Pack 101 Cub Scouts held their annual Blue and Gold Dinner last week at Meadow Pond. Senior Webelos crossed over to Vista Troop 101 Boy Scouts and received the Arrow of Light, while younger scouts received loops towards rank advancement, announced Cubmaster and Webelos Den Leader Adam Wiles. 

The evening started with a presentation of the colors, the United States Flag and Pack 101 Flag by Senior Webelos, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  Uniformed leaders and other parent volunteers were acknowledged for their time and dedication to the Pack.

The Arrow of Light Ceremony started with the lighting of a small white candlerepresenting the spirit of scouting, so that all that have taken the trail may see the light and join in witnessing the highest honor Cub Scouts can bestow a Scout.  The Arrow of Light award is the pinnacle of Cub Scouting.  It is the only award from Cub Scouts that can be worn on a Boy Scout uniform.  A blue candle was then lit to remind scouts of the lessons learned as a Cub Scout. Blue represents the spirit of Cub Scouting, the spirit of giving goodwill and doing you best.  Scouts took an oath to this.

A larger white candle was lit to represent the Scout Law: To be trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent? Scouts then take an oath to this.

The third candle is yellow and it represents the Arrow of Light.  It is straight and narrow, just as is the path that Scouts should follow throughout their lives.  It is pointing to the right, a symbol that nothing should be left undone. And lastly, this is the symbol of the seven rays of the sun, one for each day of the week, this is to remind scouts that every day is a new day, a new day to Do Your Best in everything, a day to honor your God, parents and country, to do a good turn, to follow the Scout Law.  Scouts promise to follow this.

Next was the Merit Badge Ceremony to award Tigers, Wolves, and Bears their belt loops toward rank advancement, followed by the Webelos Ceremony.  Parents blindfolded their scout.  This represents that without their guidance, staying on the straight and narrow path would be much more difficult. 

Parents then guided each scout to the ceremonial table and removed the blindfold. This represents that each should always see the world clearly and openly. Each Webelos was presented with an engraved plaque with their name and arrow of light, as well as a color photo album and badges.

Lastly, Senior Webelos crossed over the bridge to the waiting Boy Scout Troop. The fourth and last candle, green, was lit to symbolize the beginning of their path toward Eagle as a Boy Scout. Vista Troop 101 Scout Master Tom Fuller and several Boy Scouts accepted them as members and gave them each a Boy Scout Handbook and bolo to be worn.  Each new Boy Scout made some heartfelt remarks recalling memories and offering gratitude to Cubmaster Wiles for his guidance and commitment to them over the years.  A father of one new Boy Scouts acknowledged the hard work and time that has been volunteered to help their scouts to this point and thanked all the leaders for their efforts.

Cubmaster Wiles said,  “I hope and pray that the desire, eagerness, interest and free spirit you have shown in Cub Scouts carries over into your families, places of worship, school, circle of friends and everything you do in your lives.  The trail to Eagle still lies ahead of you.  It takes a strong desire, a willingness to sacrifice, and lot of guts and love to make it.  This is your starting point! May your journey be onward and upward. May you be a successful, active and contributing citizen of your community and of our country.”

For more information on the Vista-Lewisboro Pack 101, visit: https://vista101.mypack.us

For more information on the Westchester Boy Scouts, visit: http://www.wpcbsa.org