Like Great-Grandfather, Like Grandfather, Like Father, Like Son, Like . . .

Scouting has always been a big deal in our family.

It was for my dad.

It was for my husband.

It was for our sons.

It is for my grandson, Josh, and hopefully,

 it is for our other grandsons,
 then, down the road, their sons.

Here is what my dad, Lyman Gabrielsen, Jr., said about scouting in his personal history:

  

Dad goes on to say, "Out of my own scouting love,  learned as a boy, a life-long hobby has developed.  I became interested in bird study when we studied that as a merit badge."

Dad receiving the Outstanding Scoutmaster of the Year Award

Scouts traveling on the school bus to Yellowstone.  Note the different uniforms.

Some of Dad's scouts at Yellowstone

My husband, Roger, tells about his scouting experiences:

Roger's framed photo hung in the Wilson Ward's fourier for years as the ward's first Eagle Scout.

Oops - the paper called him "Glen" Stratford.

Our son, Rick, was a quick learner in the scouting program.  Of course, his dad was eager to work with him and he had a wonderful scoutmaster and mentor, Eldon Baird.

Here are some scanned pages from Rick's scrapbook of his childhood:

His Eagle project was making birdhouses for mountain bluebirds in the wilds.

 Rick was so happy that Grandpa Gabe spoke at his Court of Honor.
My dad was so proud of him!

On Sunday, March 3, our grandson, Eaglet Josh, is about to receive his Eagle.

Josh and fellow Eaglets

The American Legion was on hand to explain the proper ways to handle the American flag 
and to present one to each of the boys.

Each fold is symbolic and represents something important.

Josh with his dad, Rick, Grandpa Roger and Grandpa Bart

Each dad shared some of the qualities that he admired about his son.  

Rick's comments about Josh were very poignant and very heart-felt.

Josh receiving his Eagle pin from his scoutmaster

Josh sharing his appreciation of his scouting mentor

Brand-new Boy Scout Eagle

A slideshow was shown with pics of each boy and his Eagle project.

Josh cleaned out people's garbage cans to earn money to buy supplies to put together hygiene kits for people in Nicaragua.

Smiling new Boy Scout Eagle

The A. L. guys were so cute and you could feel each soldier's patriotism for our country.

Josh had these special fans see him receive this great accomplishment.

When we got back to Josh's house, Roger presented him with this 1902 Morgan silver dollar with an Eagle on the flip side that had been his Grandpa George Stratford's.  It had been passed on down to Roger, and he thought it would be appropriate to pass it down to our oldest Eagle grandson.

Hopefully, he can pass it down to his future Eagle son.

What a great heritage Josh has carried on!
Life-long skills, hobbies, attitudes and mental strength can be acquired in the scouting program. 
These fine scouts are proof of that.
I know my dad was looking down this night,

and we all couldn't be prouder!