|
This
summer, I had the pleasure and honor to meet Captain John Green
personally. Turned out that, quite by coincidence, we were both
attending the International Scouting conference at Philmont
Training Center… if you believe in “coincidence,” that is!
Thanks to a huge response from readers like you, John was able
to fulfill his financial support commitment to the volunteers of
the GREEN ZONE COUNCIL in Baghdad!
John
is now stateside, and I received further word from him that I’d
like to share with you…
Dear Andy,
I got word the other day a new BSA council has formed in
Iraq—This one is based out of Camp Victory, which is about a
15-minute helicopter flight from Baghdad. Their goals are the
same as the Green Zone Council,
but they’re able to provide Scouting to Iraqi youth near their
camp who can’t get to the area covered by the Green Zone. You
can find out more by going to
www.victorybasecouncil.org (John H. Green,
Jr., CPT, U.S.Army)
Shortly after this, Mike Bowman and I received this update from
Greg Hembree:
Dear Andy and USSSP,
I’m a deployed commander in Iraq.
I just read the letters posted on Andy’s web page about the
Scouting program here in Iraq. John Green and Mike Gerson have
ended their tours here, and many Scouters have stepped in and
taken up the torch—they continue to support and improve this
marvelous program!
I’ve involved my company with supporting the Green Zone Council
in an effort to improve the social condition of the Iraqi
people. The program is flourishing and continues to grow in a
very healthy way, improving the lives and character development
of the young men here in Iraq. Earlier this year, the Green
Zone Council held the first ever
Pinewood Derby!
The growth of the Green Zone Council has spurred the formation
of the VICTORY BASE COUNCIL! These two councils—both started by
volunteer Scouters from the military and civilian sectors—have
divided Baghdad into workable areas and
are now the tangible beginnings of a national Scouting program.
Significant support for this wonderful growth has come from
Indiana’s Crossroads of America Council, which, with help from
Spirit of America—a California-based not-for-profit
organization—has collected and shipped 1,000 Pinewood Derby
Grand Prix racecar kits. My unit just recently forwarded those
kits to the two Baghdad councils, assuring that they will be
able to continue this new tradition and build their membership
around positive events that promote responsibility and good,
wholesome fun. The Crossroads of America Council has also sent a
variety of arts and crafts supplies that help build a foundation
for Scouting’s continued growth and success in reaching out to
Iraqi youth and involving them in community service at a young
age, so that these boys will build a habit of doing a "Good Turn
Daily" for their communities.
This has been a tremendous success
and Scouts from throughout Indiana have contributed to this
cause—proof-positive that our American
Scouts can accomplish powerful achievements that help the global
environment in the form of organized and energetic Scouting
efforts in a place you’d probably not think possible! I
encourage anyone interested to become a part of this getting
involved. The positive results are overwhelming, and demonstrate
the unlimited potential of our own Boy Scouts of America
movement!
It’s also been pretty emotional (yes, I admit it) seeing how a
small idea blossomed and exploded into a huge project that has
re-energized the Green Zone
Council and spawned the birth of the Victory Base Council. It’s
amazing to see the positive impact we can have when we combine
our efforts and use our energy to improve the lives of those
sharing this world with us. (First Lieutenant Gregory Hembree,
U.S.Army-Iraq)
I’m going to write to Greg today. His email address (Yes, he
says it’s OK to use his military address!) is
gregory.t.hembree@us.army.mil
I’m also going to make a personal contribution buy buying some
of the VBC patches (they’re great Scout gifts!), here:
www.victorybasecouncil.org/vbc-store
How
about YOU?
Send your
questions and comments to:
AskAndyBSA@Yahoo.Com
(August
19, 2008 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2008)
Letters to AskAndy may be published at
the discretion of the columnist and the editor. If you
prefer to have your name or affiliation withheld from
publication, please advise in your letter.
|
