Many Years of Service

When I opened a package from my Uncle, Michael John, I wasn't expecting the long and profound history that was contained in the box.  Amongst old books (dating back to 1913) and many patches there were a treasures of many sorts.  One of these treasures was kept in a small tin that jingled when you moved it.

Many of you may remember when Great Grandfather (Michael Joseph) pulled out his Scouting memorabilia, he had a small tackle box full of different pins he had collected over the years. Most of these were simple service stars, but some were the Veteran Service recognitions.  Michael Joseph died during his 80th year of service as a registered scouter.  Though no service pin was presented to him, he did manage to keep most of these pins.

Also in this treasure box was a Certificate of Tests Passed for his First Class Rank, his Silver Beaver Medallion and his Silver Antelope Medallion. I have now completed a display to recognize his 80 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America.

Be sure to enlarge this picture.  The pins in the center are his Veteran Service Pins.  The certificate near the top is his First Class Recognition dated September 27, 1917.

Another treasure in the box was Uncle Michael John's Merit badge sash, with 22 merit badges and his rank patches.  Michael John was the first Eagle Scout in the Anuta lineage receiving it in May 1944. I will need a different shadow box for this one.

Fun in the Snow

Against popular belief you can find snow in California.  You might need to travel a bit to find it, but it is there.  Troop 606 traveled around 6 hours up into the mountains, just a little south of Yosemite to Kings Canyon National Park.  This trip served to test the boys skills at winter camping.

Snow Forts were built to spend the nights in and the days were spent having snowball fights and sledding.

One of the advantages with camping at this location was that we were a short mile walk from the General Grant Tree.  This tree is the largest Giant Sequoia in the General Grant Grove and is the third largest tree in the world. 

If this tree was an equipment bag it would hold over 37 million ping-pong balls or 159,000 basketballs.  If it were a tank of gas it would have enough fuel to allow a car to drive around the equator 350 times without refueling.  It will take about 20 adults holding hands to wrap around the base of the tree.

Next year we are hoping that we can go to the General Sherman Tree which is the living tree in the world.