WHEREAS, in the fledging years of Scouting, E. Urner Goodman, a young camp director, and Carroll A. Edson, his assistant, searched for a meaningful way to recognize those Scouts in camp who best exemplified the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in their daily lives;
WHEREAS, on July 16, 1915, the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service began with the first induction ceremony conducted at Treasure Island Scout Camp;
WHEREAS, throughout its history, the Order of the Arrow, has focused on reinforcing and instilling the values of Scouting through service, example, ceremony and tradition;
WHEREAS, the Order of the Arrow became an official part of the Boy Scout program in 1948 and, with the formation of the National Committee, began to develop and provide significant leadership opportunities for its youth members;
WHEREAS, in the 1970s, members of the National Order of the Arrow Committee recognized the need for the Order of the Arrow to be self-supporting and provide program support and funding sources for the development of new programs and opportunities focused on service, integration and leadership development, and to set an example for lodge and council leadership;
WHEREAS, the Order of the Arrow’s service has grown, expanded and continues from the early days of providing support, service and maintenance at local camps, to the service corps and day of service conducted at national jamborees, service and leadership development at each of the BSA’s high adventure bases, and service to our national forests and national parks;
WHEREAS, building on its history of service and youth leadership development, the Order of the Arrow became known as Scouting’s National Honor Society in 1999 to recognize the significant place and responsibility it had gained within the Boy Scouts of America through its example of servant leadership;
WHEREAS, the Order of the Arrow will celebrate its 100th Anniversary during the Centennial National Order of the Arrow Conference from August 3rd to 8th, 2015, at Michigan State University, with more than 15,000 guests and staff members in attendance; and
WHEREAS, members of the National Order of the Arrow Committee take great pride in the example, service, and leadership that has been and will continue to be provided by members of the Order of the Arrow.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ORDER OF THE ARROW COMMITTEE, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, ASSEMBLED AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN, IN CONFERENCE, THAT:
RESOLVED, that in recognition and celebration of the Order of the Arrow’s 100th Anniversary, the following Proclamation is hereby unanimously adopted and approved this 2nd day of August, 2015:
The members of the National Order of the Arrow Committee, on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America, congratulate and express our sincere appreciation to the more than three million past and present members of the Order of the Arrow who have served diligently and faithfully during the past century to provide leadership in service to their council, community and country; and, as we embark on our second century of service, to our future members who we call upon and dare to continue to observe and preserve the traditions of the Order of the Arrow through their cheerful service to others.