Edward Rogers  - B.S.A.  

Today (Monday), we should be celebrating. Our Troop has graduated our 84th
Eagle in our 14 year history. Every Eagle is special and Edward Rogers is no
exception. He worked very hard to earn his rank and went well beyond "just
what was required". He was an excellent junior leader and was an effective
role model for the younger Scouts in our Troop.

We have had younger Eagles, lots of them. Edward was pretty much on the
"senior track" but his ambition was to finish his rank. As with all Eagle
candidates, Edward completed his service project. His was for our Chartered
Partner and met all the criteria established by our Troop and our District
Advancement Committee... and then some.

I do not recall how many Merit Badges Edward completed. I do know that he
had his "Eagle Requireds" out of the way for a while. I would often ask him
how his "Eagle" was coming... he would smile and tell me soon... He simply
enjoyed Scouts. He ran for SPL at the request of the younger leaders and won
easily. He was working hard to help guide the Troop back to a more "boy run"
format.

I taught an American Red Cross "BAT" class with Edward weekend before last.
He had over 50 Webelos and Girl Scouts in his class. Edward was the lead
instructor and, as usual, did a great job working with the kids and his
youth instructor staff. Edward has volunteered with The American Red Cross
and our Scout Training Team since he was thirteen.... He completed the
advanced Emergency Response/Lifeguarding program and was scheduled to help
us conduct the "ER Class of 2001" in January...

Edward spent last Sunday afternoon completing his Eagle application. He
needed to complete some "last minute" paperwork with the Troop Advancement
Committee and needed our District Advancement Chairman's signature. He had
everything in order and met with our Scoutmaster Sunday evening.

Edward's paperwork was hand carried to our Council office this morning and
was immediately faxed to Irving. Within a very few minutes, our Committee
Chairman had Nationals' approval to present Edward his Eagle... Today, we
should be celebrating his accomplishments.

This evening, we held a special Troop meeting for Edward. We chose to cancel
our scheduled merit badge program and we had special invited guests... The
youth minister from our Chartering Organization was present... Edward was
very active in the Church. We also had the youth minister from the local
Catholic church as well as an Assistant Principal and guidance councilors
from our local High School and our Unit Commissioner... Our founding
Scoutmaster came too...

Unfortunately, tonight's meeting was not going to be a celebration. Nearly
everyone present already knew what our Scoutmaster was going to tell us...
that Edward had died about 10:00 PM Sunday evening of a self-inflicted
gunshot wound to his head.

We do not know the reasons why. We probably never will. Our Troop leadership
had the task of explaining to our 100 plus youth members that Edward had
made a serious and irrevocable mistake... that we had to accept his final
decision and we must love him and remember him for all of the positive
contributions he made to our Troop, the community, to his church and to his
family. We did our best to make it clear that our Troop is indeed an
extended family and that anyone, youth or adult can always count on any one
of us for help... and at any time.

We have a few rough days ahead of us now. The funeral will be on Thursday
afternoon and, at the families request, Edward will be buried in his Scout
uniform.... he will be wearing his Eagle. He has earned it. Not by his final
actions Sunday evening but by the life he lead and the positive effect he
had on those who knew him.... He will be missed.

I realize that very few of you knew Edward... in a way, that is a shame. You
would have liked him and your boys would have found him to be a great junior
leader and friend.  I am sure that nearly every Troop has a Scout like
Edward... A great kid with what seems like everything going for him...
Teenagers are very strange creatures... We will never understand them.

My request  is simple. Please consider presenting a "Scoutmasters Minute" in
your own way that will tell your Scouts, especially your "older" boys that
Scouting is there for them when they need it most... That YOU are always
there for them "anytime".... Scouting is a lot more than camping and tying
knots. Just maybe we can help a teenager get through some tough times
without considering the choice that Edward made.

I will gladly pass along any words of encouragement Scouts or Scouters wish
to offer to Edward's parents. We really can not do very much more....

--
walker@scoutcpr.org
J.W. Walker, ASM-Venture,
T777,The Woodlands, TX
I used to be an OWL, SC373

Submitted 28 November 2000