Teshie Bronk, Lucas Harris and Wesley Holthaus’ Eagle Court of Honor Script
Sunday, Mar 4, 2014 5:30pm
in the sanctuary at Valley Presbyterian Church
945 Portola Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028
Contacts
Scoutmaster Kirt Williams: 650-851-4417; cell 650-224-3503.
Valley Presbyterian Church: 650-279-4422, but the office will be closed.
Supplies
Eagles: Know who will receive your mentor pin and who you will challenge to earn Eagle
Parents: Eagle kit with Eagle medal and three pins; Eagle neckerchief and slide,; NESA pin and
certificate (if it has arrived); American flag, congratulatory letters; gift; mothers’ ribbons; camera
Lynn Holthaus: Cake and other refreshments
Quartermaster ????: American and troop flags, stands
Kirt: Eagle candles, lighter, computer with slide show and presentations by Eagles, speakers
Timing
4:30 pm:
 Set up in Lane Hall: Sallie DeGolia, Sally Harris, Lynn Holthaus
 Scoutmaster opens up sanctuary, turns on sound system, redwood lights
 Skip Hovsmith to operate projector during ceremony.
4:45 pm:
 Quartermaster sets up flag stands in the front and flags in the back of the room
 Parents set up congratulatory letters (if enough received) in back of church
 Eagle candles set up (Kirt).
 Eagles (Teshie, Lucas, Wesley), SPL (Cameron), ASPL (Westin Bourgeois), Color
Guard (Grizzly Patrol), Honor Guard (Falcon and Moose patrols), Bugler (Jeffrey
Frankel-Popell) arrives, practice
5:00 pm: All speakers present: Kirt Williams, Gerry Sauer, Rev. Warren Debenham. , Randy
Holthaus, , John Gardner, and Jack Jorgenson.
5:15 pm: Color Guard or other Scouts start greeting guests and handing out programs
5:30 pm: Court of Honor begins
6:45 pm (approximately): Court of Honor ends; refreshments in Fireside Room
7:00 pm: Scoutmaster turns off sound systems and redwood lights
7:30 pm:
 Families leave for dinner.
 Kathy Hovsmith shuts down the room and oversees cleans up.
Parents, adults with speaking roles, and those from the Pacific Skyline Council sit in the front
two left rows.
Moose and Falcon Patrol Scouts sit in the front right row, with new Eagles (Teshie, Lucas and
Wesley), next to the center aisle. Other Scouts sit in second and third right rows.
Assistant Scoutmasters sit somewhere toward the front.
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I. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: [3 min] Kirt Williams, Troop 64 Scoutmaster
(confirmed)
Kirt: Good evening. I’m Kirt Williams, Scoutmaster of Troop 64. We are here to honor Teshie
Bronk, Lucas Harris and Wesley Holthaus, who have achieved the highest rank in Scouting, that
of Eagle Scout. This is a special day for them and our troop, and the DeGolia/Bronk, Harris, and
Holthaus families thank all of you for joining us.
Before we begin our program, we have several special guests in attendance this evening. Some
will be introduced later, but right now I’d like the following guests to stand when I call their
names:
Gerry Sauer, Asst Scoutmaster
Larry Christenson, Pacific Skyline Council VP of Eagle Scout Relations
Now please rise for the invocation, presented by Lucas’ Great Uncle, Rev. Warren Debenham,
and remain standing for the flag ceremony and Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senior Patrol Leader
Cameron Vaughn.
II. INVOCATION [2 min] Rev. Warren Debenham
III. PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE [5 min]
SPL and Color Guard
SPL: Color Guard, forward march! Scouts Salute!
Jeffrey Frankel-Popell trumpet, plays “To the Colors” as the flags are brought forward
Those not in uniform, please place your right hand over your heart. (Say this right away, as the
audience will salute the flag as it’s being marched forward.)
Wait for color guard to reach the flag stands and post the flags.
Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance (brief pause)
SPL (leading audience):
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,
and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
Scouts, please remain standing. All guests may be seated.
Scouts please join me in the Scout Oath and Law (pause)
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
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Scout Law.
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
Scouts, please be seated.
I now call on Assistant Scoutmaster Gerry Sauer, to officially convene this Eagle Court of
Honor.
IV. CONVENE COURT OF HONOR [1 min] Gerry Sauer
By the power vested in me by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, I declare this
Court of Honor convened for the sole purpose of presenting the Eagle Scout award to Teshie
Bronk, Lucas Harris, and Wesley Holthaus.
V.
THE LEGEND OF EAGLE MOUNTAIN [10 min] Randy Holthaus
Early one morning a young boy stood at a trailhead. Before him rose a mighty mountain,
which seemed all the mightier when compared with his smallness.
A trail led to the mountain and then up it to incredible heights before vanishing in the
clouds. On this trail the boy could see other boys and young men, some of whom turned and
beckoned him to follow.
The boy began to climb, refusing perhaps to believe that he could ever reach the top. At
first the trail rose gently, and the boy had many companions. But soon he began to sweat and
breathe heavily, and many of his companions turned away. And still the boy climbed.
At times he climbed quickly; at times he climbed slowly. Sometimes he had to go down a
little way to find another path or stop awhile to catch his breath. But still he climbed. The trail
became steeper, the air thinner, but the climber scarcely noticed, for he had, along the way,
become stronger of body and hardier of spirit. And still he climbed.
And finally in the cool peace of evening time, he stood alone at the top of the world and
looked around him. To the left he saw a fiery golden sunset. To the right he saw a diamondstudded night sky. Behind him he saw the trail that he had followed and the hikers who were
following in his footsteps.
And in front of him he saw another mountain. And another. And a whole procession of
mountains marching off to the horizon. But the young man—for he was now a man—knew that
none of these other mountains was insurmountable, that all could and would be climbed. For he
had learned many skills in the climbing of the first mountain, and he would carry those skills
with him long after this mountain was forgotten.
And besides, he could begin climbing the next mountain tomorrow. Tonight he would rest
and celebrate and ponder the journey that he had completed. And so tonight, we pause to rest and
celebrate and honor these fine young men, Teshie Bronk, Lucas Harris and Wesley Holthaus, as
they stand at the top of the world and look around them.
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VII.
THE REQUIREMENTS OF AN EAGLE SCOUT [5 min] Jack Jorgenson
We are here tonight to honor three young men as they become Eagle Scouts. As we do so, let us
reflect on what it means to be an Eagle Scout.
The 1938 Handbook for Scoutmasters put it this way:
The badges which accompany his advancement and which the Scout wears on his uniform are
not to show that he has “passed certain tests.” There should be no past tense implied! On the
contrary, each badge cries out “I can, right now and here!”
So what can our new Eagle Scouts do? Let’s take a look at some of the things they have done in
preparing to be Eagle Scouts.
In terms of badges, they have earned the Scout badge and the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class,
First Class, Star, Life and finally Eagle. Along the way, they earned twelve required merit
badges and at least nine elective merit badges, served in troop leadership positions for at least 16
months, and spent dozens of hours on service projects, not including the many hours they spent
on their own Eagle Scout service leadership projects. In all, they have completed approximately
325 different requirements.
So what have these requirements taught them? Who are these Eagle Scouts?
First and foremost, of course, they are outdoorsmen. They know how to camp, backpack, swim,
hike, use woods tools, build fires, cook with camp stoves, find their way with map and compass,
and tell directions by the North Star or the position of the sun in the sky, and you’ll see this in the
slide show. They’ve spent over 30 days and nights camping out in tents they pitched on sites they
selected, some nights in snow caves, and more nights at summer camp. On many of those
campouts they planned their own menus and cooked their own food.
Our Eagle Scouts are comfortable with nature. They can identify local animals and plants,
including poisonous plants. They understand the causes of water, land, and air pollution and
developed a project to solve an environmental problem.
They embody the Scout motto, “Be Prepared.” They know what to do for severe bleeding,
stopped breathing, poisoning, and fractures. They can recognize and treat—and better yet know
how to prevent—hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, heat stroke, and shock.
Our Eagle Scouts are good citizens. They have attended a town council meeting and seen how
the local government is organized. They know who their U.S. Senators and Representative are
and have written one of them about a national issue. They know how to handle a US flag and
have taught this to younger Scouts. They’ve read the Declaration of Independence, U.S.
Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They have studied forms of government and economies
around the world.
They know how to manage their money and understand the risks and benefits of putting their
money in savings bonds, mutual funds, common stock, and real estate. They have set financial
goals and worked toward achieving those goals.
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These Eagle Scouts have also set and worked toward fitness goals. They’ve competed against
themselves in tests of aerobic endurance, flexibility, and muscle strength. They know what it
means to be physically, mentally, and socially fit.
They are good family members. They know what things are important to the members of their
families and have talked to them about finances, drug abuse, and growing up.
All of these things they did in order to earn the merit badges required for Eagle. Beyond those,
they earned more than a dozen elective merit badges, which introduced them to such potential
careers as aviation, electrical work, money management, and oceanography; outdoors endeavors
such as hiking, cycling, fishing, motor boating, wakeboarding, wilderness survival, climbing, and
rifle shotgun shooting and scuba diving; and hobbies such as golf and leatherwork.
VIII. PRESENTATION OF THE EAGLE AWARD [15 min] Kirt Williams, Gerry Sauer
Kirt: It is now time for the highlight of our program: the presentation of the Eagle Scout award.
Unfortunately, Teshie, Lucas, and Wesley’s Eagle Advisor from the Redwood District, Peggy
Gluck, is not able to be with us today. However, I’d like to ask Gerry Sauer, the Assistant
Scoutmaster, to come forward to make the appropriate presentations on Peggy’s behalf.
Gerry: Will the honor guard please escort Teshie, Lucas and Wesley forward. (pause)
(Honor Guard)
Honor Guard escorts Teshie, Lucas & Wesley to stage and returns to seats.
Gerry Sauer presents each boy’s Eagle Project and awards his Eagle medal.
Gerry will use his own script for this portion of the ceremony
The medals will be on the table.
Neckerchiefs will be on the table.
Scoutmaster and Gerry remove old neckerchiefs and put Eagle Neckerchiefs on new Eagles.
Kirt: Will the honor guard please escort the Scouts’ parents to the stage. (Parents stand behind
their sons on steps of stage.)
Gerry: Teshie, Lucas & Wesley: your parents have undoubtedly been your primary source of
help and strength.
In recognition of your mother’s devotion to your scouting journey, please present her with this
Eagle Scout mother’s pin. [Each Scout pins the pin on mother’s ribbon]
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In recognition of your father’s advice and encouragement along your scouting journey, please
present him with this Eagle Scout father’s pin. [Each Scout pins on father’s pin]
In recognition of your mentor’s advice and assistance on your Eagle Project, please present him
with the Eagle Scout mentor’s pin.
Teshie: My Eagle mentor is Kirt Williams. His mentor comes to stage and receives pin from
Eagle.
Lucas: My Eagle mentor is Kirt Williams.. His mentor comes to stage and receives pin from
Eagle.
Wesley: My Eagle mentor is Kirt Williams.. His mentor comes to stage and receives pin from
Eagle.
Kirt: Honor guard, please escort the Scouts’ parents to their seats.
Gerry: When we began our program tonight, you joined with you fellow Scouts in repeating the
Scout Oath. Now, you will each stand alone and repeat a new oath, the Eagle Scout Promise.
Though the words you say are similar to those you’ve said so many times before, tonight they
will mean more to you than they ever have. When you pledge yourself on you sacred honor, you
will be sealing your oath with the words which closed the Declaration of Independence.
Please make the Scout sign and repeat after me (boys repeat in unison):
“I reaffirm my allegiance to the three promises of the Scout Oath. I thoughtfully recognize and
take upon myself the obligations and responsibilities of an Eagle Scout. On my honor I will do
my best to make my training and example, my rank and my influence count strongly for better
Scouting and for better citizenship in my troop, in my community and in my contacts with other
people. To this I pledge my sacred honor.”
And now, it gives me great pleasure to present to you our newest Eagle Scouts, Teshie Bronk,
Lucas Harris, Wesley Holthaus.
Gerry– comments and presents the Eagle Certificates.
(The certificates will be on the table.)
IX. PRESENTATION OF EAGLE FLAGS AND GIFTS [5 min]
Gerry introduces Larry Christenson, Pacific Skyline Council VP f Eagle Scout Relations and
Dick Goodell, Redwood District Advancement Chair.
Council Representative Larry Christenson (on behalf of Pacific Skyline Council Board of
Directors) presents Council gifts: National Eagle Scout Association membership pin, , special
Eagle Pacific Skyline Council patches) to boys.
Redwood District Advancement Chair Dick Goodell: Eagle keychain.
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(They follow their own scripts.)
Flags will be on the table in a box.
Kirt: Each of the following United States flags was or represents a flag to be flown over the
United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC in recognition of our scouts achieving Eagle
Rank.
The flag is a symbol of the United States of America, and of our democratic form of government
and the freedoms provided by our Constitution. Those freedoms include, but are not limited to:
Freedom of speech
Freedom of religion
The right to assemble
The right to vote by secret ballot
The right to trial by jury
Teshie, Lucas & Wesley, let these flags remind you of your duties as an Eagle Scout to preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution.
(Kirt hands out flags and shakes each of the boys’ hands.)
And as with past Eagle Scouts, Teshie, Lucas & Wesley have received many congratulatory
letters from our nation’s leaders. These letters are on display at the back of the church.
X.
CANDLE CEREMONY AND EAGLE CHALLENGE
[5 min]
Kirt: We would like to invite all Eagle Scouts to come forward at this time. Please line up and
introduce yourselves, state the number of your troop, and the city and date you received your
Eagle rank.
Kirt will light two large candles (Candles and lighter will be on table), introduce himself and
hand first candle to the first Eagle Scout who passes it to the next Eagle Scout as they introduce
themselves. The next candle trails behind in the row, so that each new Eagle has a candle to
hand to boy he challenges.
The new Eagles are last.
Teshie: Thank you very much. [Wait if there is applause] In keeping with our tradition, I would
now like to challenge Dominique Schillace to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout [wait for him to
come up and pass him the candle].
Lucas: Thank you. [Wait if there is applause] I would now like to challenge Nick Hovsmith to
achieve the rank of Eagle Scout [wait for him to come up and pass him the candle].
Wesley: Thank you. [Wait if there is applause] I would now like to challenge XXX to achieve
the rank of Eagle Scout [wait for him to come up and pass him the candle].
(Wait for applause and face the audience graciously and acknowledge. Remain there until Kirt
reaches the podium and asks you to come up and give your speeches)
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XI.
EAGLE SCOUT REMARKS
[15 min] Kirt and Teshie, Lucas & Wesley
Kirt:
Teshie, Lucas and Wesley will now say some words about his Eagle experience
Teshie: We would each like to thank our parents, our leaders, our Troop, our merit badge
counselors, and our families.
Lucas: 3-5 minute talk describing your Eagle Project, thanking the people who helped you (in
addition to the ones mentioned above), and saying what you remember most about your years as
a Scout. Try to think back and include early memories as well as more recent ones. You might
also say something about which Eagle Scouts have influenced you—the person who challenged
you, perhaps.]
Wesley: 3-5 minute talk describing your Eagle Project.
Teshie: 3-5 minute talk describing your Eagle Project.
Kirt: Thank you, Teshie, Lucas and Wesley, and congratulations. I would also like to again
thank all of our troop leaders and parents for their hard work and support. And thank you to all
of our council and district representatives and everyone else for joining us tonight.
XII.
Slide show Kirt [10 min]
Kirt: We have put together some photo memories of the boys’ Scouting events. They started
as cute little Tiger Cubs in Pack 163 in first grade, progressed through the Wolf, Bear, and
Webelos ranks, finally earning Arrow of Light, then moved on to Boy Scouts. Today they are tall
young men, Eagle Scouts in the 8th and 9th grade.
One thing I want you to notice in the slide show is how many people have touched their
lives. While the photos are centered on Teshie, Lucas & Wesley, you’ll see parents, siblings, Cub
and Boy Scout leaders, old friends from Cubs, and new friends from Boy Scouts in these images.
I’d like to make the slide show interactive. If you recognize the event or place, be the first
to shout it out.
XIII. Closing
[1 min]
Kirt: Now, I would like to ask Gerry Sauer to officially close this Court of Honor and
Wesley’s grandfather, John Gardner, to give the Benediction.
Gerry: By the power vested in me by the national council of the Boy Scouts of America, I
declare this court of honor to be duly closed for the purpose of presenting the Eagle Scout award
to Teshie Bronk, Lucas Harris, and Wesley Holthaus. Congratulations and a job well done! (or
own script)
XIV. Benediction
XV.
[1 min] John Gardner
Retire the Colors
SPL, Color Guard [1 min]
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ASPL: Would the color guard please come forward? [Pause.]
Audience please rise. [Pause.] Retire the colors.
Jeffrey Frankel-Popell, trumpet, plays “To the Colors” as the flags are retired
American flag goes first followed by troop flag.
Marches in one line down the center of the room. The line proceeds in a fluid motion out to the
back of the church.
ASPL: Please join the DeGolia/Bronk, Harris & Holthaus’ families and the Scouts of Troop 64
for refreshments in Fireside Room. Thank you for attending tonight’s ceremony.
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