Boy Scout Troop 102 Reflections - Naugatuck Historical Society

Looking Back . . . Looking Forward; Scouting and Troop 102

By Bruce Monahan

"Troop 102 has a rich heritage in the history of Scouting. Starting in 1913, it is one of the longest running Troops in the country. How many of you knew it was initially chartered as Troop 2, part of the once Naugatuck Council? Did you know that the eighteen year old age limit to earn the Eagle Badge didn't exit in the early years? In fact, our longtime former Scoutmaster, Cecil Matson, was one of those who became Eagle after his eighteenth birthday. At one point, Cecil was one of the top five longest registered Scouters in the entire country.

We had representatives from our Troop at all of BSA's earliest National Jamborees.

Scouting in general has changed with the times. No longer is semaphore and Morse code required or the ability to set a snare. Who would have thought, back then, that there would be a Scout requirement to show a proficiency with small fueled backpacking stoves?

In the early years, there was little need for an aviation merit badge and the idea of an Atomic Energy merit badge would have drawn blank stares. During the early years, there wasn't a need to have a Tenderfoot requirement on drug awareness. For our son's safety, a "Youth Protection" plan was put in place. Women, having won equal rights in the voting booth and in the work place, can now take a more active role in the leadership of the Troop.

The key to the success of the Scouting movement has been its willingness to change with the times, without giving up the core values we recite every week in the Scout Oath and Law.

We also need to remember how much we (Scout Leaders" have influenced thousands of Naugatuck young men's lives over the years . . . setting right example . . . words of encouragement . . . offering top notch programs . . outdoor program, skiing, and canoeing, Jamboree at Philmont, snorkeling in coral reefs, climbing Baldy. How many Scouts would have never taken that first step in growing up with their first week away at Camp Mattatuck?

Looking forward then we need to remember the past. We will need to continue to be flexible and change with the times, while maintaining the dedication to Scouting's basic values.

One hundred years from now, when someone looks back at us, will they say we were successful with our turn of carry the torch?"

Taken from the July/August 2002 edition of the Naugatuck Historical Society Newsletter

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	Looking Back . . . Looking Forward; Scouting and Troop 102 By Bruce Monahan "Troop 102 has a rich heritage in the history of Scouting. Starting in 1913, it is one of the longest running Troops in the country. How many of you knew it was initially chartered as Troop 2, part of the once Naugatuck Council? Did you know that the eighteen year old age limit to earn the Eagle Badge didn't exit in the early years? In fact, our longtime former Scoutmaster, Cecil Matson, was one of those who became Eagle after his eighteenth birthday. At one point, Cecil was one of the top five longest registered Scouters in the entire country. We had representatives from our Troop at all of BSA's earliest National Jamborees. Scouting in general has changed with the times. No longer is semaphore and Morse code required or the ability to set a snare. Who would have thought, back then, that there would be a Scout requirement to show a proficiency with small fueled backpacking stoves? In the early years, there was little need for an aviation merit badge and the idea of an Atomic Energy merit badge would have drawn blank stares. During the early years, there wasn't a need to have a Tenderfoot requirement on drug awareness. For our son's safety, a "Youth Protection" plan was put in place. Women, having won equal rights in the voting booth and in the work place, can now take a more active role in the leadership of the Troop. The key to the success of the Scouting movement has been its willingness to change with the times, without giving up the core values we recite every week in the Scout Oath and Law. We also need to remember how much we (Scout Leaders" have influenced thousands of Naugatuck young men's lives over the years . . . setting right example . . . words of encouragement . . . offering top notch programs . . outdoor program, skiing, and canoeing, Jamboree at Philmont, snorkeling in coral reefs, climbing Baldy. How many Scouts would have never taken that first step in growing up with their first week away at Camp Mattatuck? Looking forward then we need to remember the past. We will need to continue to be flexible and change with the times, while maintaining the dedication to Scouting's basic values. One hundred years from now, when someone looks back at us, will they say we were successful with our turn of carry the torch?" Taken from the July/August 2002 edition of the Naugatuck Historical Society Newsletter

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