Boys Scouts turn 100; “Follow Me, Boys” showing at Drafthouse
Winchester, VA – February 7 – the first Sunday of this month – many area churches, especially those that charter Scouting units, will be recognizing Scout Sunday and will be including Scouts in their services.
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) designates the Sunday that falls before February 8 (which is Scouting Anniversary Day) as “Scout Sunday.” This is the primary date to recognize the contributions of young people and adults in Scouting.
BSA is a century old
The event takes on even greater significance this year as the Boy Scouts of America will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary on February 8, 2010. “A Scout is Reverent” is the overall theme of the celebration.
As you notice your young men and Scout leaders wearing their uniforms this Sunday, it’s an appropriate time to remember all the good that Scouting has done to help produce many of our nation’s finest leaders, as well as instilled important values in youth all over the world.
The Shenandoah Area Council of the BSA is especially appreciative for the support of local business and churches in helping meet the funding needs of local BSA programs. The Council encourages people to contact BSA Alumni to invite them to participate in the 100th Anniversary activities throughout 2010.
Special screening of “Follow Me, Boys” at Alamo Drafthouse
On February 8th, 2010, the local Shenandoah Area Council (SAC) Boy Scout units will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts in a somewhat unusual way – at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. The celebration will include both a special 100th Birthday Program followed by the showing of the all-time great, 1960’s Walt Disney movie on Scouting, “Follow, Me, Boys!”
This film, starting Fred MacMurray as a small Midwestern town Scoutmaster, captures the spirit and adventure experienced by young men through the Scouting program.
Scouts and their Scoutmasters from Scout troops from all over the local area will be participating in uniform and every seat in the two Alamo theatres hosting the event have been sold out in advance.
Stuart Williams, SAC Scout Executive recently stated, “We are thrilled with the response for our 100th Birthday celebration and hope this event will instill even more deeply in the hearts and minds of those participating the tremendous significance of the Scouting
program over these many years.”
This kick-off event is one of many 100th Anniversary events that will be occurring over the coming year. It is hoped that many Scouting Alumni will join in the celebrations. If you would like more information about the schedule of local 100th Anniversary BSA events, please contact the Scout office at (540) 662-2551, or visit their website.
(NOTE TO THE MEDIA: Key leaders of the Shenandoah Area Council, including Stuart Williams, Scout Executive, Paige Manuel, President of the Executive Board, Ben Mathis, Chairman of the 100th Anniversary Committee, and several Eagle Scouts and Scout leader are planning to meet with the Press at 5:45 pm in the Lobby of the Alamo Theatre on Feb. 8.
They will be making some brief comments about the 100th celebration and then provide time for the Press to conduct interviews with several Eagle Scouts and Scout leaders. Reporters are welcome to come into the theatre to further talk with scouts about what the 100th means to them and also observe the special 100th Birthday Ceremony.
This is great! We hope attendance will be high and the local community will come out in support of Scouting! Good luck and have fun, SAC!
This event is sold out but we hope other theaters in the area will allow us to do the same thing during this year of celebration. Please call 540-662-2551 if you would like to host a showing of this movie or help with any event to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Scouting.