Memorial Day is the day we set aside to honor those who gave their lives in service to this country. Ahead of the holiday, Scouts from the Cherokee Area Council placed over 60,000 flags in Cleveland, Tracy City, Ringgold Soddy-Daisy and the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Saturday. The Scouts were joined in their efforts by both leaders and parents. Scout Executive and CEO of the Cherokee Area Council Jared Pickens explained how this event can teach the Scouts about honoring those who served. "It is truly incredible to see this service provided to our community by these young people," Pickens said. "This is a fantastic learning experience for our Scouts – to respect the service of those laid to rest in these sacred places." Greg Lee, Volunteer Vice President of Program for the Cherokee Area Council, described the importance of getting young people involved early on. "A lot of younger Scouts don't exactly know why we're putting the flags out or what it symbolizes, what Memorial Day is, what's Veteran's Day, what's Armed Forces Day, so we kinda try to educate them on part of that, where Memorial Day is those who have lost their life in defending our country for our freedoms," Lee said. Lee tells us he's been involved with placing the flags for about 25 years, but the view never gets old. "It's really neat to watch as you stand back at the amphitheater to watch up over the hill as the red, white and blue goes in the ground," Lee said. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is also honoring those who served. Park Ranger Will Wilson said those soldiers are the reason the National Military Park exists. "Park Historian Jim Ogden will be giving a torchlight tour of Chattanooga National Cemetery and telling some of the stories of some of the soldiers that were involved here," Wilson said. Wilson hopes people who attend the torchlight tour leave with more connection to its history. "This is a place of remembrance now and a place that really speaks to us as a nation and who we are," Wilson said. In a release, the Scouting America Cherokee Area Council said they were "thrilled" to honor Medal of Honor recipient Captain Larry Taylor on this year's commemorative patch. "We are honored to serve these local heroes once again this year," Lee said. Starting Wednesday of next week, the Scouts will begin taking the flags back down, Lee said. Those interested in volunteering to help with this can contact the Cherokee Area Council. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/scouts-honor-fallen-heroes-by-placing-flags-in-area-cemeteries-for-memorial-day?fbclid=IwY2xjawKimNVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLSWE3U1ROWW1jUU0zVmRRAR7UO86NlXwM0XqhuHorIYMZBSV2BkmTRPDLapOWnwp7fwexJ-YOnUBE55AThg_aem_mxfJyyX4mPAr0Z3m1jxphA

Eisa Eilertson: T roop 1020

This week, Scout units across the Chattanooga region collected 2,525 pounds of non-perishable food items in partnership with local food banks and Crown Subaru of Chattanooga. The groceries collected will provide 2,104 meals for those in need throughout our area. To help alleviate hunger in our community, 'Scouting for Food' is an annual collection of nonperishable food items, coordinated across the 11 counties served by the Cherokee Area Council of Scouting America. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, the largest recipient of items, will deliver goods to its network of Hunger Relief Partners across the community and in turn, provide food to thousands of individuals and families in need. “We are deeply grateful for the nourishing meals that Scouting for Food will be able to provide to the families in need in our community,” said Melissa Blevins, president & CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. “In serving their community, the local Scouts are helping us provide food - and hope - to those neighbors in our community who are struggling and seeking food assistance.” Jennifer Franklin, community engagement manager of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, added, “Not only does this help us provide groceries for our neighbors in need, but also enables us to spread awareness in our community.” The Scouting for Food campaign involved door-to-door food collection efforts by Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and Venturers. Scouts distributed informational door hangers throughout their designated neighborhoods and community areas. "The Scout Slogan is Do a Good Turn Daily," said Council Commissioner, Zachary McCarty. "Our Scouts log thousands of service hours annually. This project was a great way to demonstrate to the community the values of Scouting that we teach to the youth of the program." Crown Subaru of Chattanooga, a partner with local Scouts for this effort, and issued a statement, “We are thrilled to work with Scouts and our local food banks through this effort. Everyone knows that both Scouting and Subaru help get families into the great outdoors – but now we can spread the word that we are all here to help our community as well.” Contact Edward Ellis with the Cherokee Area Council at 423-315-0329 or edward.ellis@scouting.org for additional information or to make a belated donation. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/4/28/502898/1000-s-To-Be-Fed-Thanks-To-Local-Scouts.aspx?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ_Rx9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFkanRFN0dqQkdiSlp6YzBRAR7WCaOFbnPWy4XfW34V7-Gc8CralnGR9VClKifRAE1b-aKpv3YY_jaZ4pzPSg_aem_VWyWIh9QS6TNfOJVbvHmNA

Dale Murphy Praises Braves and Scouting While Here

Follow the link below for the audible article: https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/catoosa_walker_news/lifestyles/ringgold-scout-troop-produces-five-more-eagles/article_d27bfc6c-8d4c-11ef-bf8c-eb081e2841c3.html

This month, scouts across the area joined forces with Wreaths Across Chattanooga to lay wreaths from Cleveland to Chattanooga. Click the link below for more photos: https://www.chattanoogan.com/2024/12/19/496909/PHOTOS-Scouts-Join-Forces-With-Wreaths.aspx

The Cherokee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America hosted hundreds of attendees this year to honor the accomplishments of the 2024 Eagle Scout Class at the annual Gathering of Eagles. Co-presenting sponsors Synovus Bank and EPB were there to support the work of these outstanding young people across the Tennessee Valley. The 2024 Eagle Scout Class contributed nearly 10,000 hours of service to their local communities through 59 different projects. "This Eagle Scout class is especially exciting as it is just the fourth in the history of the Cherokee Area Council that includes young women among its recipients," officials said. Top awards were given to three youth for Eagle Scout Projects of the year: • Shane Boyd of Jasper, for his project at Fiery Gizzard Trail conducting trail conservation and constructing a bridge at a location over a mile down the trail; • Grady Pitts of Signal Mountain, for his project at East Lake Salvation Army Library revitalizing and installing all new Library Bookcases; and • Cooper Hampton of Lafayette, for his project at Summerville Montessori Schools completely revitalizing their playground with interactive and educational elements. The Cherokee Area Council also awarded the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award to adult Eagle Scout Clay Watson. This award honors lifetime achievement of Eagle Scouts for their positive actions reflected by accomplishments and devotion to their local community, state and nation. Adult volunteers and Scout leaders including Tim Knight, Leslie Miller and Jim Morgan received the Silver Beaver Award, given for outstanding volunteerism to the local Council. J.J. Jerman was honored with the Council’s first Alumni of the Year award for his tireless efforts to promote reengagement of Scouting Alumni across the region. This dinner served as the Council’s largest and most important recognition event for local Scouts and adult volunteers.The event was held on Dec. 3 at the Westin in downtown Chattanooga, and featured Jed Mescon as Master of Ceremonies, with congratulatory remarks from officials with U.S. Senators Blackburn and Hagerty.

A day on the water is always a fun time, but area Scouts not only had fun Saturday on the Hiwassee River, but got to show off their paddling skills on their handmade rafts, too. Saturday afternoon was the 46th running of the Great Hiwassee River Raft Race, and while it was a smaller group of scouts participating this year, it was no less an exciting and enjoyable event. Shannon Ward, Scoutmaster for Troop 1010 in Cleveland and race coordinator, explained the race is the culmination of a weekend for local Scouts and others from outside Cleveland. She said this year there were several Scout troops from the Chattanooga area, and two from around Atlanta. The Scouts stay at the Gee Creek Campground in Polk County, where they eventually put the finishing touches on their rafts, have them inspected, and then transported to Hiwassee Outfitters in Reliance. The rafts are launched from that site, then continue down the Hiwassee River to the ramp at U.S. Highway 411. “I think the biggest thing about the raft race is they take the skills that they learned in scouting and through Scouting adventures, and they actually put those skills to use,” Ward stated. Those skills include lashing bamboo together in a way that it can be paddled. Then they put that raft on inner tubes, and then they are ready to be placed on the water. “It's not only aquatic skills that they have to have, but also pioneering skills and engineering skills [to create the rafts],” Ward said. Dave Briick of Troop 540 out of Marietta, Georgia, said they also have to have paddling skills, which they learn through practice. “They have to decide who is going to go where on the raft, and how and when they are going to paddle,” Briick said. “If one paddles when another doesn’t, then they are just going to go around in a circle.” Troop 540 and 675, also from the Atlanta area, were not strangers to the Hiwassee River, as this was the fifth time for Briick and his troop. They were also no strangers to the local Scouts. “They come down for summer camp at Fort Adams every year, so we kind of have a relationship with them,” he said. “We share in Scout spirit.” Each year, the Great Hiwassee River Raft Race has a theme for the Scouts which includes them dressing up as characters. One year, they were pirates, another year, one team dressed up like the rock band Kiss characters. This year’s theme was Fright Night, and there were several teams that dressed the part. Troop 1010 had two teams — one named Vampire69 that were dressed as hippies ready for the Woodstock Music and Art Fair [which occurred in August 1969] and the other characters from "Scooby-Doo." The teams competed for paddles that they will then take back to their Scout headquarters and display them for all to see. The awards and paddles given out were for Scout Skills, Best Design, Best Overall, Fastest Time and Spirit Award. The race was a little bittersweet for Ward, as it was the first race since the death of longtime Scoutmaster Dr. Cecil Stanbery, who actually passed away around the time of last year’s raft race. He had coordinated the race for several years, and Ward said she had learned so much from him. It was also the last race for Troop 10 [boys] and Troop 1010 [girls], as the two will merge into one troop on Sept. 1, when the Boy Scouts of America become Scouting USA. These two troops will be the first in the Cherokee Area Council to merge following the decision by the national organization. https://www.clevelandbanner.com/news/scouting-skills-on-display-at-river-raft-race/article_9a091fa7-89c2-50ab-9b2d-01311d1a8a0a.html By ALLEN MINCEY Banner Correspondent Aug 26, 2024

Thank you for leading our future leaders Mack!