JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- The Boy Scouts of America celebrates its 100th birthday on Monday.
Jefferson City’s Troop Two has been around since 1923.
Dave Harris has been a scout master in Jefferson City for the past 27 years. As scouting celebrates its 100th birthday, Dave celebrates a rare scouting milestone as he helped 100 scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
“There are 1.1 million volunteers, like myself, that give their time," Harris said. "There’s kind of an old saying when they try to get you to be a Boy Scout leader. It only takes an hour a week. Well, that’s not quite true.”
An Eagle Scout must earn 21 badges and perform a project for the community. Jefferson City’s Troop Two has produced 169 eagle scouts over the past 87 years, including Dave’s son Donald Harris who became an eagle scout in 1987. Donald died in an accident several years ago.
In the past 100 years, there have been a number of boys who earned their Eagle Scout badge went on to accomplish great things. Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States. Steven Spielberg is one Hollywood’s legendary directors. Even the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, is an Eagle Scout.
Harris has been a Scout Master for so long that if you added the time he has slept in a canvas tent, it would add up to more than a year.
“Everybody needs to find something to do to help their fellow man out," Harris said. "Scouting is just where I fit.”
As part of the Scout’s 100th birthday on Monday night, Jefferson City’s Troop Two will award its 100th Eagle Scout during a special Court of Honor at the First Presbyterian Church on Madison Street.
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