SOUTHWICK – American Legion Post 338 hosted a Blue and Gold Awards ceremony for cub scout troops 114 and 338 on Friday night.
The Blue and Gold Awards are held annually and centered around recognizing cub scouts who have received their Arrow of Light (AOL) and are moving up from cub scouts to boy scouts. Also known as a Webelos Scout, a cub scout is able to receive the AOL, which is the highest rank in cub scouts. The requirements to receive the AOL award are as follows:
Several families attended the awards ceremony on Friday night to support their cub scouts. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
- Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since finishing the fourth grade or at least six months after turning 10-years-old
- Helping build a better world
- Outdoorsman
- Duty to god in action
- Scouting adventure
- Must complete one elective adventure of your den’s or families choosing
Three scouts received the AOL award, Jager Nero and Adam Rokicki of Den One and Riona Quesnette of Den Nine. In order to cross over to a troop, all three children had to be pinned, light a candle, and also cross over a bridge to their new troop in order symbolize their achievement.
A cub scout leader is seen congratulating a scout while parents watch in the background. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Joe Nero, a cub scout troop den leader and also Jager’s father, was proud of the achievement his son was receiving on Friday evening.
“When you watch your son go from kindergarten to boy scout, it’s pretty awesome,” said Nero. “It’s really cool.”
Nero added that included with moving up from cub scouts to boy scouts is more responsibility. With cub scouts, the den leaders make a lot of the decisions and plan events, but in boy scouts, the children will be responsible for organizing events and other activities.
Besides the AOL ceremony, Webelos Scouts were also recognized with a patch for their time spent at pack meetings, activities, and other events. Matthew Dunham, a fourth grader who’s a Webelos Scout, was happy about his achievement.
“I love it,” said Dunham. “I feel great, I’m very excited.”
Erin Leitner, the mother of cub scouts Elliot and Owen Leitner, enjoyed the ceremony and is glad that her sons are cub scouts.
“They love it, there’s so many good experiences and lessons that they learn,” said Leitner.
It wasn’t just the scouts who were recognized at the Blue and Gold Awards, den leaders were also thanked for all of their years of service with pins. Amy Binder, Katelynn Gaugh, Rachele Dunham, Joe Nero, Wendy Loubier, Deb Quesnette, Brenda Kantor, and Micki Gargano were all recognized.
