The Echo

"ONWARD FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY"

The Boy Scouts of America observes its 46th birthday during Boy Scout Week February 6 to 12, with its membership at an all-time high of 4,100,000 boys and adult leaders.

Since 1910 more than 24½ million Americans have shared in its leisure-time program. There is scarcely an American family that does not know of Scouting firsthand.

To mark this birthday the organization launches a Four-Year Program with the theme "Onward for God and My Country."

The Boy Scouts of America seeks through organized and trained manpower to give an increasingly better program to an increasing number of the nation's youth," says Dr. Arthur A. Schuck, Chief Scout Executive and to "help today's youth to 'Be Prepared' as citizens of character, to be prepared in body, skill, spirit, will and as a member of a team."

The Chief Scout Executive feels that this program is launched at a time when it is evident that increased emphasis on our free way of life is important. For the safety and welfare of the United States, he believes a patriotism of the highest type is essential, a patriotism built on a firm spiritual foundation.

As Scouting now influences the lives of three million boys," he says, "we must help them to the realization and acceptance of God as the guiding power of the universe. We must interpret and find additional methods to help a Scout in his own religious life to fulfill his obligation to God as stated in the Scout Oath and Law."

The Onward for God and My Country program also seeks to give youth opportunities to develop physical fitness, self-reliance, a sense of personal responsibility, a spirit of helping people, a willingness to share, and an understanding of government's democratic processes.