To the Editor:

I witnessed a young man who failed at his first attempt to pass the swim test become determined to pass it, triumph and mature beyond words.

I witnessed the success of this young man in turn inspire yet another young man to conquer his fears and pass the swim test, triumph and mature beyond words.

I witnessed a young man who looked like he must have felt alone in the world, take on a leadership position that met the challenges set before him, though not perfectly or without err, who came to the understanding that everyone has shortcomings, thus triumphing and maturing.

I witnessed a young man who became more aware of who he is and whose leadership brought back an award for the troop, triumph and mature beyond words.

I witnessed a group of young men who supported the efforts of the leader, and with whose efforts, the troop award was only possible through triumph thus maturing beyond words.

I witnessed a young man who came to understand that opinions are opinions, and just because he wouldn’t do something the way it was done, it doesn’t make the way it was done wrong or unfair, triumph and mature beyond words.

I witnessed a young man who set a goal to take full advantage of the opportunity set before him and filled every waking moment to attainment of this goal, triumph and mature beyond words.

I witnessed a young man who truly showed us all the meaning of joyful service and looking at the good side of everything when he stood up and said, “I like table-waiter duty. It means I get to eat first,” thus triumphing and maturing beyond words.

I witnessed a group of young men, who felt honored and privileged, proudly raise the American flag for the Independence Day opening ceremony, triumphing and maturing beyond words.

I witnessed a young man who boldly stood before hundreds of scouts and put his heart and soul into the morning blessing on Independence Day, thus triumphing and maturing beyond words.

I witnessed one young man take another young man, new to the troop, under his wing and show him the patrol method and fully welcome him into the troop.

I witnessed that new scout, so aware of his own responsibilities to the troop, every morning to do what needed to be done so that his tent passed troop inspection with flying colors.

I witnessed two young men take on a campsite improvement project rather than wait for the opportunity that may or may never materialize for the entire troop to share in the burden. They did not boast or even mention their additional burden, and triumphed and matured beyond words.

I witnessed a group of young men triumph and mature beyond words.

I witnessed, in short, a Troop 37 of Carrsville Boy Scout Summer Camp.

Andrew Perkins
Franklin
Troop 37 Assistant Scoutmaster