EagleCourtOfHonor-fromSM

Congratulations on your son's Eagle! Abarring any paperwork issue, his paperwork should be processed within six weeks.

[This link] will give you an overview of the Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

I definitely want to be a part of his ceremony. But if you want Uncle Buck to be the Master Of Ceremonies and Mr. ___ to deliver the Scoutmaster's Minute, that is absolutely fine with me. (Uncle Buck is a special family member or friend and Mr. ___ would be an adult leader with whom your son has worked moreso than with me.) You won't hurt my feelings. I say this because the Eagle Scout Court of Honor is put on by your family with support from the Troop; this is your son's ceremony. (Or, I could say, your sons', since they can have a multiple-Eagle one.)

At the same time, start planning this early - the day after the Eagle Scout Board of Review. Write the script; several examples are available. Copy a previous one, re-invent the wheel, or do a mixture of both.

As soon as you have a date set, invite the Mayor; if available, the Mayor will come, but he needs to receive an invitation ASAP, letting him know he will be part of the ceremony. Likewise, invite dignitaries. Every living President, present and past, sends an Eagle Scout acknowledgement. Many Eagles invite elected officials; some have invite their favorite authors.

So on Day One you start writing the script. On Day Two, start finding a location. I can help, but I need to know ASAP. Once the date is locked in, send the invitations out - immediately, especially to the dignitaries and officials. (We are fortunate in Gilroy; the mayor has nearly always come when invited.) Many of the national ones take a couple months to respond; these are great displays at the Court of Honor. An excellent location is the Scout's house of worship; not all churches are available for such, but many are. Another excellent location is a clubhouse (service club's meeting place).

The Eagle Scout award kit comes not only with parent pins, but also an Eagle Mentor Pin. This should be part of the Eagle's Minute; the Eagle should present this to such a person as his Den Leader from Cub Scouts, or maybe his uncle or grandfather who is an Eagle, or someone who helped him with his project.

Keep in touch - this is a huge day for your son and a huge event to plan. Last-minute makes it difficult.

-Alan Viarengo