Scouting Alumni

Today is the first day of the month, when American Legion posts across the country observe Be the One, a movement focused on preventing veteran su***de and encouraging all of us to take action when a veteran may be struggling.

The premise is straightforward. Reach out. Start the conversation. Listen. Show veterans they matter.

As I reflected on the importance of Be the One, I came across a story that perfectly demonstrates its impact.

Fourteen-year-old Scout Cameron Berry selected veteran su***de awareness as the focus of his Eagle Scout service project. Instead of constructing a physical monument, he chose to create something just as meaningful, a community united around supporting veterans.

Cameron organized a Be the One Walk to End Veteran Su***de in Alexandria, Virginia. After months of planning and coordination with local officials, veteran service organizations, and community leaders, nearly 200 people gathered to participate.

Before the walk began, Cameron shared why the project mattered to him -

“This walk is my way of using leadership to unite our community, and service to show our veterans that they are not alone.”

Those words capture the essence of Be the One.

The event brought together veterans, families, community members, and support organizations. Participants signed a banner pledging their commitment to helping end veteran su***de and ensuring veterans know they are supported.

Leadership is not defined by age, position, or title. It is defined by a willingness to serve others and bring people together around a meaningful purpose.

Cameron's project demonstrates that each of us has the ability to make a difference. Sometimes it begins with a simple question, a conversation, or a gesture that lets someone know they are not alone.

That is what it means to Be the One.

Learn more 👇

https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/be-the-one/2025/june/14-year-old-earns-eagle-scout-rank-by-showing-veterans-they-are-not-alone

Scouting is full of traditions, and one of the oldest unfolds every summer on Michigan’s Mackinac Island.

The Mackinac Island Scout Service Program is now underway for the season on Mackinac Island, continuing a legacy that began in 1929 when future President Gerald Ford was part of the first troop.

Often known as the Governor’s Honor Guard, selected Scouts from across Michigan take part in a highly competitive program. Their responsibilities include raising flags at Fort Mackinac, assisting with daily island operations, leading tours, and supporting community service projects.

Each morning begins with a cannon signal and a coordinated flag-raising ceremony that brings together dozens of scouts in a precise, unified display. Participants live in historic barracks on the island and rotate weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

For many, the experience becomes more than a summer program. It is a lasting connection to service, history, and leadership that stays with them long after they leave the island.

Watch the story 👇

https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/mackinac-island-scout-service-program-returns-as-tourism-season-begins-boy-scout-girl-scout-governor-honor-guard-

In 1944, 20-year-old Army Pfc. John A. Walko, an Eagle Scout from Indiana County, left home to fight in World War II and never returned.

For more than 80 years, his family lived without answers after he was killed during the Battle of Aachen and buried overseas as an unknown soldier.

Last week, thanks to advances in DNA identification, Walko finally came home.

His 96-year-old sister, Sally Gaydosh, met his flag-draped coffin on the tarmac at Pittsburgh International Airport and kissed it before his final journey home for burial beside their parents.

“My poor mother prayed so hard,” she said. “Now we can all get off our knees.”

Welcome home, Pfc. John A. Walko.

Read more of his story 👇

https://www.post-gazette.com/life/goodness/2026/05/19/john-walko-army-indiana-pa-wwii/stories/202605240023