History of the Order of the Arrow Yustaga Lodge #385
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
History of the Order of the Arrow Yustaga Lodge #385 May 2015 Gulf Coast Council Pensacola, Florida Boy Scouts of America Table of Contents I. Forward ........................................................................................................................ 1 II. Preface ........................................................................................................................ 3 III. Yustaga Lodge History ............................................................................................... 5 A. History of the Gulf Coast Council .................................................................... 5 B. Gulf Coast Long Term Campgrounds ............................................................. 6 C. The Order of the Arrow Comes to the Gulf Coast ........................................... 8 IV. Yustaga Lodge Structure ........................................................................................... 9 A. Former Officers ............................................................................................... 9 1. Lodge Chiefs and Advisers .......................................................................... 9 2. National Officers ........................................................................................ 10 3. Section Officers ......................................................................................... 10 B. Lodge Publications ........................................................................................ 11 C. Lodge Executive Council (LEC) .................................................................... 11 V. Yustaga Lodge Activities ........................................................................................... 15 A. Lodge Events ................................................................................................ 15 B. Section Activities ........................................................................................... 16 C. Lodge Insignia .............................................................................................. 16 D. Lodge Traditions ........................................................................................... 18 1. Lodge Necklace ......................................................................................... 18 VI. Yustaga Memories ................................................................................................... 21 A. Memories by Year ......................................................................................... 21 B. Summary ...................................................................................................... 34 C. Contributors: ................................................................................................. 35 VII. Lodge Awards ......................................................................................................... 37 A. Distinguished Service Award ........................................................................ 37 B. Urner Goodman Camping Award .................................................................. 37 C. National Service Award ................................................................................. 38 D. National Standard Lodge .............................................................................. 38 E. Quality Lodge ................................................................................................ 38 F. Journey to Excellence Award ........................................................................ 38 G. Number One Section in the Nation ............................................................... 38 H. (Section/Region) Best Lodge ........................................................................ 38 I. Vigil Honor .................................................................................................... 39 J. Founder's Award ........................................................................................... 43 K. James West Award Recipients ..................................................................... 44 VIII. References: ........................................................................................................... 45 I. Forward ,RQFHKHDUGDYROXQWHHUVD\³$OOZHZDQWLVRXU*RGJLYHQULJKWWREHQXPEHURQHLQ HYHU\WKLQJ´When I think of the time I have been honored to be part of the Yustaga Lodge, those words have never seemed more true. Over my 30 year career in professional Scouting, I have been honored to be part of 6 different lodges. None focuses on excellence more than Yustaga. Cheerful Service DERYHDOORWKHUFRQFHUQVLVKRZWKHORGJHSURYHVLWV¶FRPPLWPHQWWRWKH*XOI&RDVW Council. The pride the Lodge exhibits related to our camp is higher than any other lodge I have worked with. Spanish Trail Scout Reservation is used almost every week in our council and that would not be possible without the Arrowmen of Yustaga and their never ending willingness to do whatever is asked of them to keep our camp facilities the best they can be. Beyond service, members of Yustaga strive for excellence in everything they do. The pride that is built in our members to represent not only our Council, but themselves, is obvious. The honors and awards that the lodge has earned over the 67years of its existence are second to none making it one of the premiere lodges in the Southern Region. Since 1948 the members of our lodge have kept focus on what is really important in 6FRXWLQJ«RWKHUV It is with great pride that I call myself a member of the Yustaga Lodge. As a Scout Executive, it is a great comfort knowing that the lodge believes in our camp, our council mission and service to those in Scouting now and those that will come after us. Happy 100th anniversary to the Order of the Arrow. Scouting would not be the same without you. Spencer Page Supreme Chief of the Fire Scout Executive Gulf Coast Council 1 2 II. Preface As the Scouting movement expanded from England in the first years of the twentieth century, the youth of northern Gulf coast of Florida and Alabama proved eager to join. History shows that Scout units began to appear in this region either in advance of or at least in parallel with the establishment of the US Congress charted Boy Scouts of America. As the Scouting Movement grew, a society of "Honored Campers" was established to recognize those Scouts that "best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives." Thus, in 1915, the organization to later be name The Order of the Arrow came into existence. It took 33 years for this Order to reach the Gulf Coast, the forming of Yustaga Lodge. As The Order of the Arrow celebrates its 100th Anniversary, there is a yearning to document the OA's history. The National OA charged the local lodges to write the history of their lodge so that the Arrowmen that follow will know their origins and of the journey thus far. This document is the product of that desire. By consolidating the history reports from available documents and verbal sources, the history of Yustaga Lodge is being recorded for future generations. The initial goal of this document is to be part of the National Order of the Arrow Conference to be held in the Summer of 2015. Each Lodge is encouraged to bring their history and share with other Arrowmen at the conference and each history will be compiled into a digital history of the entire OA. After the conference, this document will be considered a "living document." Although the history of Yustaga Lodge has occurred, the recording of that history and the recording of current events into the history shall continue. It is hoped that this document will cause Arrowmen to remember events from their personal history that can be added to this record. Errors in the record can be corrected. This history is not the work of a single person, but of the entire Lodge and all its members, current and past. As you read the pages of this document, think back to your experiences. What impressed you during your journey? Who influenced you? What lessons did you learn that made an impact on your life? Then, write up those stories and submit them to the Lodge History team. Each story has its place in the history and should be recorded. Dr. Darryl G. Huddleston Yustaga Lodge May 2015 3 4 III. Yustaga Lodge History A. History of the Gulf Coast Council In the early 1900s, the flames of the new Scouting movement spread across Europe and began to take root in the United States and the Gulf Coast of Florida was no exception. Across the country, YMCA organizations were some of the first to recognize the potential of the Scouting movement to spark the interest of young men. Even though the methods of reaching and working with youth were different, the YMCA leaders worked to encourage the formation of the early Scout units. In the Pensacola, Florida, area, YMCA General Secretary Mr. J. M. Sherrill worked with Mr. John Bradford, YMCA Boy's Work Secretary, to form five troops in either 1909 or 1910. Mr. Bradford served as the first Scout Commissioner for the area. These early units may have been some of the first Scout units in the USA! The value of the Scouting program was not wasted on these early Scouts. Two of the Boy Scouts went on to become Mayor of Pensacola in their adult years. As the movement grew, others towns in south Alabama and north Florida started Scout troops. Atmore, Alabama, had a troop in 1911. One of these early Scouts, Mr. Leslie B. McCoy, was still an active scout in the mid 1970s. The founder of the city of Shalimar, Florida, Mr. Clifford H. Meigs,