Scouts' Honor

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When dozens of Cub and Boy Scouts gathered at the National Guard Armory on Saturday to celebrate the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary, the event was about more than the history of Scouting. It was about the future, too. Duran Shavers has been involved in Scouting since he was 8 years old -- more than half of the century the organization is celebrating. Now the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 390, he sees continuity in the young faces.

"My Eagle Scouts have really taken over," he said, laughing. "I'm kind of the big dog sitting on the porch -- they do all the work."

Those Eagle Scouts are now Scout and Cubmasters of their own troops and packs and include Travis Spivey, Michael Sharp and P.J. Roberts. Shavers doesn't see himself quitting any time soon, though.

"It's always been my thing," he said. "People ask me when I'll stop and I always say when it quits being fun."

Tables lined the walls of the Armory, filled with mementos of Scouting history. There were old uniforms, pack and den flags, canteens that had been used on camping rips even before Shavers donned his first Cub Scout uniform, and an original version of the Boy Scout Handbook, issued in 1911.

One troop had a slide show going on at one end of the room and another set up a campsite, complete with tent and cookware. Yet another table was filled with about two dozen cakes, all made by the Scouts, and all with an anniversary theme. In the lobby, Scouts left offerings of canned goods for local charities on a table by the door.

Support system

With smaller Cubs playing hide and seek in the crowd -- or getting in taste tests of the punch -- and the older Scouts examining pocket knives and camping equipment, there was a strong sense of fun and fellowship throughout the event. It is just that kind of fellowship that drew Christian Lawson to Scouting -- and keeps him there. Christian, 14, and his little brother Dylan, 12, were taken from a bad home situation when they were about 3 and 1.

"They were going to put us in foster care, but my aunt wouldn't let them split us up, so she raised us," said Christian.

His aunt, Ruth Arnold, not only kept the boys together, she encouraged their interest in Scouting. Dylan actually got started first.

"My little brother was in Webelos," he said. "I saw how much fun he was having, so I wanted to be in Boy Scouts."

He loves the camping, the learning and many other activities Scouting has to offer -- but what he enjoys most is the fellowship.

"I like the environment, I like the people," he said. "My Scoutmaster, Mr. (Travis) Spivey, he's a real good person. We go duck hunting together. He's a pretty cool guy. He's like a dad to me really. They've been really good role models."

Christian's dedication to Scouting has been noticed. He was chosen to go to Washington, D.C. this summer to participate in a parade honoring the 100th anniversary, and then on to the National Jamboree in Virginia. The Jamboree is only held once every four years and you have to be 14 to attend, so it is a distinct honor for the young man. While there, he'll get to do some scuba diving and other activities, but best of all, he'll get to meet other Scouts.

"I really want to meet more people from different places," he said. "There will be boys there from Brazil and other countries. It will be fun to see other countries' scouting traditions."

The trip will cost about $1,800 and Christian is already getting donations. The Optimist Club has already stepped forward to help -- yet another strong Scouting tradition.

"I wanted to go to the International Jamboree in Australia," said Spivey. "The Optimist Club helped me."

Spivey said Christian is an excellent choice to represent the lcoal Scouts at the Jamboree.

"He's a good kid and he'll be going on to do good things," he said.

Anyone interested in helping Christian get to the Jamboree can contact Spivey at 684-3709 during the day and 685-1956 in the evening.

Pledges and Proclamation

Scoutmaster Michael Sharp welcomed the crowd and then stepped aside to let different Scouts lead different oaths, pledges and promises. Eagle Scout Cody Burchette led the Pledge of Allegiance and Christian Lawson led the Boy Scout Oath. Jackson Smith even recited the Sea Scout Promise.

"I know we don't have Sea Scouts here," said Sharp. "But we wanted to recognize every Scout."

Ryan House led the Cub Scout Promise, Preston Brown the Outdoor Code and Isaac Williams led the Venturer Promise.

Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartrwright then presented the Scouts with a proclamation honoring the organization on its 100th anniversary.

Dessert delights

Of course, it wouldn't be a celebration without a cake. There were nearly two dozen cakes brought in for the day, each one designed and decorated by a Cub or Boy Scout. Parents could help, said Sharp, but the Scouts had to do the majority of the work themselves. The cakes ranged from rectangles with the Scout symbols on them, printed on edible "paper," to a 3-D Sculpture of a Boy Scout sitting in a rocking chair. A fan favorite -- as well as the judges' -- was the 3-D "campfire" created by first place winner Boy Scout Chase Bobier. The "logs" were a variation of pumpkin roll and the bricks surrounding the campfire were pound cake, but what really caught the eye were the details. Chase melted sugar and formed it so that it cooled into panes of candy that looked like flames of both clear and opaque orange and gold.

"I watch Cake Challenge," he confessed, grinning.

The rocking chair Scout, made of snack cakes and fondant and created by Cole Smotherman, took third place, and a campground scene, complete with a deer, decorated by Caleb Green was second.