Ceremonial Advisory Group Formed

Other authors revised the early ceremonies in the late 1940s just prior to the Order of the Arrow becoming an official program of the Boy Scouts of America. By the 1950s and early 1960s however, the OA initiation had, to a large degree nationally, deteriorated into a haphazardly conducted formality, all too frequently characterized by hazing and other activities inconsistent with not only the Order’s principles, but also the core tenants of the Scout Oath and Law.

Raymond C. Petit, a new member of the Ump Quah Lodge in Washington state was so keenly motivated by his poor experience of his own induction into the OA that he formed the Ump Quah Ceremonial Improvement Program – the beginnings of what would become ten years later, the CAG. When Ray went to college at MIT, he brought his Ceremonial Improvement Program ideas with him, many of which became a part of an Alpha Phi Omega service project, resulting in numerous publications designed to improve the individual candidate’s experience of the Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil Honor ceremonies.

On June 21, 1969 the National OA Committee, at the urging of future chairman Dr. Carl Marchetti, formed the “MIT boys” into an official advisory group.

Most of the core CAG members were college-aged, and went on to earn advanced degrees, including Jay Dunbar, PhD; Roger Billica, MD (and CMO of NASA); Kemp Cease, MD; Joseph Buchman, PhD; Matt Fisher, PhD; David Mest, PhD, others pursued studies in the Catholic Priesthood, served missions for the LDS Church, in computer science invention and applications, or have achieved similar academic success in their chosen fields.

The CAG disbanded following the 1992 NOAC, but many of its members have remained individually active in NOAC training, literature development and in local lodges as ceremonial team coaches and advisors.

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John Forrest

John (Jock) Forrest was inducted as an Ordeal Member into Chappegat Lodge (now Ktemaque) near New Rochelle, New York in 1952, earned his Brotherhood in1953, and was recognized with the Vigil Honor in 1960.

Jock was a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) Alpha Phi Omega (APO) chapter where, after earning a Master’s of Science degree in Political Science, he was deeply impressed with the work of a younger member, Ray Petit. The two became life-long friends and as highly energetic organizer and manager, Jock shared much of Ray’s work with a larger audience. Jock served as an early contributor to many Scouting Service Exchange (SEE) projects including the Election Ceremony and procedures revisions, and the editing and development of the Handbook for Ceremonial Teams, and other projects.

From 1961 to 1977 John Forrest served in the United States Army, including an assignment in the Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Vietnam field office, eventually earning the rank of Major. For over four years in the mid 1960s, while stationed in Vietnam, Jock was in charge of the US government’s Scouting Project office, organizing Scouting units throughout South Vietnam. His unreserved devotion to his nation was recognized with various awards, including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation (each with oak leaf clusters) as well as the Army Commendation Medal and Air Medal.

After returning from Vietnam, Jock was instrumental in the transition of the APO SEE project into what became the Ceremonial Advisory Group, the management of early NOAC Ceremonial Team and Inductions Training, including, in 1976, the coaching of the first team to perform the new pre-Ordeal Ceremony for the National OA Committee (resulting in its eventual approval), and the development of the OA’s Unit Representative program.

Forrest is on the far right of this photo.

His Scouting service has been characterized by his tireless devotion and high levels of energy, and has been recognized by the Order of the Arrow’s Distinguished Service Award (1977), the Silver Beaver, the God and Service Medal and Founder’s Award.

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Eagle Scout First on the Moon

Neil Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012), the first man on the moon earned his Eagle Scout award in Wapakoneta, Ohio’s Troop 14 in 1947 just prior to entering Purdue University later that same year to begin his study of Aerospace engineering.

At the age of 15 Neil began taking flying lessons. On the way home from the Shawnee Council’s camp, Neil, another Scout and their Scoutmaster came upon an airplane crash involving both his flight instructor and a fellow student pilot. Although they quickly summoned help and administered first aid, only the flight instructor survived.

On the way to the moon in Apollo 11, Neil sent greeting to the National Jamboree, saying, in part,

Hello to all my fellow Scouts at Farragut State Park in Idaho . . . Apollo 11 would like to send them best wishes.

As an adult, he has also been recognized with the Distinguished Eagle Scout and Silver Buffalo awards. Ketchikeniqua Lodge, Shawnee Council based in Lima, Ohio, inducted Neil Armstrong into the Order of the Arrow.

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"Super Bowl I"

The first “Super Bowl” was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. At the time it was called the AFL-NFL Championship Game and was largely seen as an exhibition game at the time. The game was carried on two networks, CBS and NBC, however the game was blacked-out in the Los Angeles area because the game could not draw enough fans to be sold out. The Vince Lombardi-coached Green Bay Packers of the NFL were led by Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr as they defeated the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs 35 to 10.

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National Standard Lodge Created

In 1957 the lodge re-charter process and forms were changed from an information device to a “policy compliance” agreement.

Questions regarding ceremonies, membership, administration, rules, adults, and funds were incorporated, requiring a “yes” or “no” answer, thus establishing the first “standards” for lodges. In 1960, a total of 16 questions were developed as part of a lodge training effort. These questions were listed for “appraising the operation of an Order of the Arrow lodge” and became the first formal set of standards provided to lodges.

In 1968, based mostly on the 16 questions, a formal National Standard Lodge (NSL) program was established. In the initial rollout, only three lodges earned NSL status, largely due to the 50% Brotherhood requirement, which only eight lodges achieved. By 1970, 71 lodges (out of 488 total) were National Standard Lodges. In 1978, the program was replaced with the “Lodge Achievement Program” and then later the National Quality Lodge Program.

In 2006, a Quality Lodge pin to recognize the efforts of Arrowmen was introduced with proceeds from the Quality Lodge pin sales going to the Order’s Endowment fund.

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Nixon Elected President

Our 37^th President was a former Vice President, Lawyer, U.S. Representative, and Naval Officer (Lieutenant Commander) in World War II. He was re-elected in 1972 in one of the largest landslide victories in U.S. history, but the Watergate Scandal marred his second term and Nixon became the only President to be forced to resign from office in disgrace or face certain impeachment and expulsion. Richard Nixon was present for two National Jamborees as Vice President. As President he hosted the first National Explorer Presidents’ Congress in 1971.

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1963 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the 1963 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Mark O. Benner, A. Thomas Brisendine, John J. Dowe, Henry M. Faucett, William Grant, Roy M. Hinshaw, John L. Johnston Jr., J. Allan Lewis, Michael F. Miler, Martin Mockford, H. Banks Newman, Marion Sadorus, Dwayne E. Welling and Thomas K. Winsor.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream" Speech

On August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered one of the most iconic speeches of the twentieth century, entitled “I Have a Dream,” as a part of the civil rights movement’s march on Washington for Rights and Freedom.

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Kennedy Assassinated

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Friday, November 22nd, 1963 in Dallas, Texas while traveling in a motorcade. There has been an immense amount of controversy over who actually shot Kennedy. The Warren Commission (which included Eagle Scout and future president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford), conducted the investigation into the assassination; however the commission’s conclusions were questioned almost as soon as they came out.

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The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show

Some say that when the Beatles made their first appearance on American television on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, it was and remains a seminal event in the history of rock and roll music. Mass hysteria resulted wherever the Beatles appeared, thus “Beatlemania” ensued.

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50th Anniversary Award Announced

The Order of the Arrow (OA) celebrated its 50^th Anniversary in 1965. The celebration was a national event, and each lodge, chapter, and Arrowman was urged to participate to the fullest. Area fellowship training conferences placed special emphasis on the 50^th Anniversary program of service, and the celebration culminated with the 50^th Anniversary National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC).

To recognize individual service, a 50^th Anniversary Award was created for each Arrowman under twenty-one years of age who fulfilled specific requirements during the 1965 calendar year. These requirements were outlined on an official scorecard, and were to be completed and signed off by the Arrowman’s unit leader and lodge adviser prior to November 1. They included such things as active interest in the lodge and unit; attendance at summer camp; participation in an OA service project; rank advancement; and new member recruitment. There were 26,576 successful Arrowmen who received a special 50^th Anniversary Award, and this cloth emblem was to be worn in the designated location on the Arrowman’s sash.

Following the success of the 50^th  Anniversary Award the OA subsequently offered a 60^th Anniversary Award and a 75^th Anniversary Award.

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US Enters Viet Nam War

From 1957 to 1965, the war was mainly a struggle between the South Vietnamese army and Communist-trained North Vietnamese rebels known as the Viet Cong. During this time, the U.S. provided military advisors and China and the Soviet Union supported the Vietnamese Communists with war materials but not troops. The first U.S. combat troops entered Vietnam in March 1965 and most of the fighting was between North Vietnam and the United States. By 1969, the Vietnam War seemed endless, and the United States slowly began to withdraw troops.

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