Arrowmen attending the 2015 National Order of the Arrow Conference will get a once in a lifetime souvenir, after a vote by the national committee at the annual planning meeting this past December.
At the meeting, committee members approved a proposal to give each NOAC participant a special edition red sash.
The idea was first proposed by the 100th Anniversary Youth Advisory committee, which is being led by past National Vice Chief Preston Marquis, to give a special Order of the Arrow sash to every participant and staff attendees of the 2015 NOAC.
These sashes will differ from those currently worn in that the colors will be reversed, with a white arrow emblazoned on a red sash. Unlike the black signature sashes sold at previous NOAC’s, these will have snaps and will be wearable by all. For the national conference, the commerative sash will be made in the current style and given out at a special program to be unveiled.
This souvenir sash will be worn for only a designated period of time, and should be viewed as a commemorative item. The rarity of the sash is noteworthy, as only those present at NOAC 2015 will receive them. Any extras produced will not be sold.
Interestingly, reversed color sashes have been made before. For the 1950 NOAC, national committee members wore Vigil bands of reversed colors so they could be easily found by lodge members that had questions about the Order being fully integrated into the Boy Scouts of America.
For the 75th anniversary of the Order, Dr. Carl Marchetti, national chairman at the time, donned a red souvenir Vigil sash with a white arrow created for national committee members. These sashes had "75th anniversary" stitched into them above the top Brotherhood bar.
In 1993, a full length black sash with snaps with a white arrow was created as a retirement gift by Dr. Marchetti for national committee members, and a hand written note was included with each sash. In celebration of 100 years of the Boy Scouts of America, Bob Mazucca, past Chief Scout Executive, had a red sash made with the 100th anniversary BSA logo for committee members as well.
Make sure to save the date for NOAC 2015, and get ready for an awesome adventure in commemoration of our centennial celebration.