H. Benjamin Koschmann
Eagle Court of Honor
October 9, 1999
When a young man becomes an Eagle Scout, people gather around to honor him and congratulate him on his achievement. He has shown that he can set goals and accomplish them. He has demonstrated leadership. He has arrived at a station in life that few will join him at. We have come here today to do just that.
I choose to believe in something a little different than just honoring the young man for his achievements. Although the tasks required to become an Eagle Scout are indeed difficult, they are not impossible. The purposes of the specific tasks are not just to show determination or gain proficiency in certain skills. I believe that they are to prepare the Eagle candidate for what lies ahead of him.
True Eagle Scouts do not just achieve the rank. It becomes part of the very fabric of their being. We have all heard the phrase "Once and Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout". Most of you have heard me say that every boy that joins the Scouting program and stays in it is an Eagle Scout, even if they don’t get the rank. I believe that both are correct.
However, when a young man does achieve the rank, when his family and friends gather around on the occasion to present him with the rank, it is no longer a time to rest on the laurels of victory. His family should be proud of his accomplishments. His friends should pat him on the back, and wish him well. As his Scoutmaster, though, I have another task.
As I look into the crowd tonight, I see several Eagle Scouts. Would you all please stand? I am an Eagle Scout, so I say this with the pride and humility of all of the Eagle Scouts. Congratulations. It is time to do some real work. You are an Eagle Scout now, and forever more. No one can take that from you. You have a greater responsibility than any other person in this great country. It is now your job, your quest in life, to give it back. Look around the room. Look at your friends that are here to honor you. You must prove yourself worthy of that honor by helping them achieve this position. Look out at the families. Look to the future. There will be hundreds, perhaps thousands of young men in the future that will seek your guidance, and you MUST give it. It is you job...Your responsibility. When you look at the other gentlemen standing here before you, remember that they believe the same thing.
There will be many wondrous happenings in your life. Remember your duty to Scouting. Do not walk away from it now that you have achieved your goal, for if you do, you have not yet achieved it.
Eagle Scouts are expected to be leaders. Eagle Scouts are expected to excel. Eagle Scouts are expected to help. Eagle Scouts are expected to be skilled in multitudes of different things. Basically, an Eagle Scout is expected to be the best, a man among men. Seems like a pretty tough ideal to live up to. However, to be a true Eagle Scout, there are only two things that you must due.
Ben, always try to do your best at all things. Remember the basic principles of Scouting whenever you have to make a decision. Have confidence in yourself, but don’t be arrogant. A lot of people will be watching you from now on… don’t let them down.