Congrats on Making Eagle!!!

Now it's time to celebrate!

Written by: Carl Roy Gullans, Sr.
Pequott District
Theodore Roosevelt Council
October 31, 1997

Previous Eagle COH document templates:

Eagle Scout Court of Honor program (Master).docx

Eagle Scout Court of Honor Script Master.docx

The Eagle Scout Challenge.docx

The Eagle Scout Charge.docx

Download this document:

After the stress of going through the Eagle project, the Board of Review, and merit badge wasn't enough, preparing the Court of Honor can be more stressful!

Remember this is a celebration of your scouts accomplishments! Parents must consult with the scout as to what he desires to be in his ceremony.

Troop 413 does not plan your Court of Honor! It is up to the Eagle Scout's family to provide all COH details including location, refreshments, and other financial aspects.

The Eagle Scout Court of Honor is a very personal event in both the life of the Eagle Scout
and the lives of his family and friends. Thus, in situations where many Eagle Scout Awards are to be presented, it is essential that adequate recognition be given to each INDIVIDUAL young man. Far too often there are so many boys receiving awards at a given Court of Honor that the individual Scout is lost in the shuffle. It is a tremendously important moment for the Eagle when he receives his badge.

AVOID sharing the Court of Honor with another scout. While costs can be shared, attention should be focused solely on him when the big moment arrives! Appropriate planning can insure a memorable Eagle recognition ceremony and award presentation, one that will not soon be forgotten by key participants. Be careful that the ceremony is well planned and rehearsed so that it runs smoothly and on time. Time? Be extra careful that the ceremony does not go on too long. Nothing ruins an impressive ceremony more than dragging it on for hours. Limit planned and impromptu presentations to a few minutes--- advise the presenters to not read their citations, proclamations, etc. in their entirety but highlight key points. Do not read
letters and cards received - put them in a suitable book for display (if the Eagle Scout candidate wants one particular letter read---that’s fine).

General Pre-arrangements
As soon as the Eagle Scout Presentation Kit arrives, if not before, the Scoutmaster or
troop committee chairperson with the parent(s) should begin serious preparations for the
Eagle Scout Court of Honor. (NOTE: it is unwise to make any definite preparations until the
national Eagle Scout Service has certified the Eagle Scout’s credentials. Many an
embarrassing moment has occurred when a court of honor has had to be postponed or worse
canceled because of problems with an Eagle Scout’s application. No unit should hold a court
of honor until it is assured that the application process has been successfully completed!)
The Eagle Scout candidate and his family should be invited to designate an award presenter
who should then be contacted and his/her participation firmed up. If a hall or other facility is
to be used for the ceremony, the necessary arrangements should be made with the owners or
other responsible group as soon as possible.

In order to obtain letters of recognition and congratulations from government officials,
celebrities, etc. the requests must be mailed a minimum of four weeks prior to the date of
ceremony (six weeks or more is preferred). Local dignitaries, political leaders, and
organizational people usually like at least four weeks as well.

When the who, what, when, and where have been established, those who will actually
plan the Court of Honor should be brought together (how). This group of people will usually
include representatives from the troop committee, the patrol leaders’ council, and the troop
ladies auxiliary (if the troop has one). Don’t forget the parents and the Eagle candidate
himself! Coordination should be established concerning such details as:
Χ Other advancement recognition - this should be for the Eagle candidate only; e.g., an
Eagle Scout palm
Χ Ceremony details, including any special props (e.g., candles, Eagle display board),
public address (PA) system, and the movements of the participants
Χ Decorations
Χ Refreshments - decide if the troop will help contribute with this or not
Χ Invitations to guests and possible presenters
Χ Printing of the programs
Χ Publicity with special emphasis on photographs in newspapers (this can include pre-
post ceremony coverage that should always include a brief description of the Eagle
Scout Leadership Service Project)
Χ Coordination of any religious leader’s participation
When the planning is complete, it is essential that all key people understand their roles in
the arrangements and in the ceremony itself. Periodic rechecking to make sure that
preparation in all assignment areas are progressing on schedule is a good idea. The presenter
and any other guests who will have a speaking part in the award presentation should be
contacted directly. It is helpful if these people have a thorough understanding of their
individual duties as well as some general information concerning Scouting history and the 7
significance of the Eagle Scout Award (if unfamiliar). It is always a good idea to give those
with speaking parts (e.g., during a recognition ceremony) a script so they can become
familiar with the wording and can practice its delivery.
As the day of the ceremony draws near, those who will participate should be well
prepared. They should know precisely how the entire Court of Honor is to take place. In
summary, everyone should understand where, how, and why they fit into the scheme of
things.

Features of a Good Eagle Scout Court of Honor
Here are a few things to keep in mind while planning an Eagle Court of Honor:

• The ceremony should have a definite opening.
   

• A proper introduction of the Eagle Scout candidate should be made by someone or
  some group the Scouts in the troop respect.
   

• A complete and easy to understand explanation should be made regarding what must
  be accomplished to attain the Eagle Scout rank (explicit mention should be made of
  the candidate's Eagle Scout Leadership Service project).
   

• The Eagle Scout candidate's parents should be escorted to the front of the room and
  should stand or sit near him (if neither of the parents is able to attend, a guardian,
  close relative or friend should join him). Be sensitive to the desires of the candidate if
  there are two sets of parents or other areas of concern.
   

• The Eagle Scout candidate should reaffirm his belief in the ideals of Scouting by
  either reciting the Scout Oath or participating in the Eagle Scout Pledge.
   

• The presenter should be someone of special significance to the Eagle Scout candidate
   

• The presenter should be given a few moments to speak concerning the individual
  Scout or the Eagle Scout Award.
   

• Either the presenter, assisted by a troop committee member, the Scoutmaster, or the
  Scout's parents, should pin the badge on the Eagle candidate. (Many troops elect to
  have this important function performed by the Scout’s mother.) Note: it is advisable
  to have the Eagle medal ready for pinning to prevent unnecessary fumbling during
  the ceremony. Another unique idea would be to present the Eagle medal attached
  to a red-white-blue drape (ribbon).
   

• Both the mother and father should receive some recognition from the Eagle Scout
  himself.
   

• The Eagle Scout Presentation Kit will include an Eagle Scout mother’s pin
  and an Eagle Scout father’s pin. Some units will have the mother presented with
  a bouquet of flowers as well.
   

• There is a MENTOR pin in the Eagle Scout Presentation Kit which the scout should
  present to whomever advised or helped him on his path to Eagle Scout. If you need
  additional Mentor pins they are available at your local scout shop.
   

• The Eagle Scout should receive congratulations from all people involved. Some of
  the letters of congratulations may be read or displayed to those present as desired but to read them all would tempt boredom and the ruination of an otherwise good ceremony...
   

• The Eagle Scout should be given the opportunity to say a few words if he is inclined
  to do so - this would normally be just before the closing. He should speak from
  prepared notes as this makes the best presentation and a lasting impression.
  Encourage the Eagle Scout to do more than just say thank you. He should state
  what impact Scouting has had on his life, his best memories, his future, etc.
   

• Because the Eagle Scout Court of Honor is a Scouting event, Scouters who are
  invited to the ceremony should go first before other presenters.
   

• A nice addition to any ceremony is a gift membership in the National Eagle Scout
  Association. T Eagle Scouts are a great resource for Scouting’s future.
   

• The ceremony must have a definite closing.

Pitfalls To Avoid
1. When using candles for the ceremony, get a supply of fresh candles. Don't try to get by with candles that have previously been used. The Eagle Scout ceremony is a big enough event to warrant fresh candles. Light them beforehand briefly, it’ll make lighting them during the ceremony easier. Save the candles for other purposes (e.g., use them to make troop fire starters)...

2. Make sure you have matches or a working lighter available

3. Check the public address (PA) system immediately before the start of the ceremony. Check volume. Be sure any wiring is not going to pose a safety hazard. Inform those who will use the PA system on its proper operation (if practical).

4. Check all props before the start of the ceremony. This includes the lectern, any lights being used (spare bulbs available?), the candles, etc. Is the script available at the lectern?

5. Remind the parents of the Eagle Scout that their son will be pinning awards on them also. They should dress in a way to facilitate this. The mother should wear a dress or suit with lapels or a blouse with a collar. This makes life for the Eagle Scout much simpler than with a turtleneck sweater. The father should wear a tie or, at least, a jacket with lapels.

6. The Eagle Scout Presentation Kit will be delivered to an appropriate individual in the troop by an executive, advancement person, commissioner, etc. as soon as the National Eagle Scout Service approves the Eagle Scout application.

7. PLEASE rehearse the ceremony. Stumbling over words detracts from the quality of the ceremony. The young man worked hard to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout; make the ceremony appropriate to his achievement.

8. Have someone assigned at the door to receive guests and presenters. It’s a good idea to let the Master of Ceremonies (MC) know who has arrived and for whom they are representatives. Go over the correct pronunciation of names as well. The MC at the conclusion of presentations should always ask if anyone is on hand for a presentation who was not yet called. Remind all presenters to keep their remarks short! This is not the time and place to plug their organization or themselves. The night belongs to the Eagle Scout

Eagle Scout Court of Honor Publicity Plan
There are basic steps to follow in publicizing the COH. The following
suggestions will help unit leaders develop a media plan for the Eagle Scout Court
of Honor.

• Social networking

• Troop website

• Troop Meetings

• Email distribution lists

• Local newpaper

• School newspapers

Create a Bio of the scout:

A brief... one page press release (in color) to local newspapers, elected leaders, clergy from church, other troops

Include Scouting honors and leadership positions, education, church, civic and school activities, and include the troop number and the Scoutmaster's name in any news release. Above all include a brief description of the service project and whom it benefited.

When preparing a news release, six points are important to remember:

Who...What...When .... Where .... Why ... and .... How.

Get all these points into the first two or ....three sentences.

Then go into the details of the story.
Address and mail (or fax) all news releases to the editor of the local newspaper and
newsletters at least a week in advance of the presentation (some require two or
more), or as soon as possible after the ceremony.

Example: