Boy Scouts changing its name to reflect DEI

Boy Scouts of America will change its name to Scouting America in an effort to be more inclusive

The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America.

It’s a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.

The organization steeped in tradition has made seismic changes after decades of turmoil, from finally allowing gay youth to welcoming girls throughout its ranks. With an eye on increasing flagging membership numbers, the Irving, Texas-based organization announced the name change Tuesday at its annual meeting in Florida.

Largest sexual abuse settlement fund in U.S. history

U.S. judge Tuesday affirmed the Boy Scouts of America's $2.46 billion settlement

of decades of sex abuse claims, rejecting appeals by some of the group's insurers and abuse claimants

U.S. District Judge Richard Andrews in Wilmington, Delaware, ruled the Boy Scouts agreement, which would create the largest sexual abuse settlement fund in U.S. history, was a good faith effort to resolve claims by more than 80,000 men who say they were abused as children by troop leaders.

The Boy Scouts' settlement, approved in bankruptcy court in September, was supported by 86% of abuse claimants and the Boy Scouts' two largest insurers.

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Boy Scouts Banned

Boy Scouts banned from planting American flags on veterans' graves for Memorial Day due to coronavirus

The U.S. National Cemetery Administration, the federal agency within the VA that operates the sites that because of the "national emergency, VA national cemeteries will not be hosting public Memorial Day events," and that includes "mass placement of gravesite flags."

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Something tells me that we will figure out a way.

Boy Scouts and Gay Ban

Mark Foley is a hero to some people around here as he once was viewed proudly by his hometown of Lake Worth for his achievements--starting in politics as a Lake Worth City commissioner and rising to U.S. Congressman. But he doesn't get the ring with Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX).

Gohmert says that he’s disappointed that Democrats do not support banning gay people from the Boy Scouts of America, mainly because former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) was revealed to have made sexual advances toward underage congressional staffers. Read more...

Guessing Game - We need to know our Enemy

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1. 1968, Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by:
a. Superman
b. Jay Leno
c. Harry Potter
d. A Muslim male between the ages of 17 and 40

2. In 1972, at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:
a. Olga Corbett
b. Sitting Bull
c. Arnold Schwarzenegger
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians
b. Elvis
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
d . Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

4. During the 1980's, a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
a. John Dillinger
b. The King of Sweden
c. The Boy Scouts
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

5. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
a. A pizza delivery boy
b. Pee Wee Herman
c. Geraldo Rivera
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

6. In 1985, the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs
b. Davey Jones
c. The Little Mermaid
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

7. In 1985, TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kidd
b. Charles Lindberg
c. Mother Teresa
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

8. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Doo
b. The Tooth Fairy
c. The Sundance Kid
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

9. In 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
a. Richard Simmons
b. Grandma Moses
c. Michael Jordan
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

10. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers
b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems
c. The World Wrestling Federation
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

11. On 9/11/2001, four airliners were hijacked; two crashed into the World Trade Center towers, one crashed into the Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Almost 3,000 people were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr. Bean
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

12. In 2002, the United States began fighting a war in Afghanistan against:
a. Enron
b. The Lutheran Church
c. The NFL
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

13. In 2002, reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and his head was cut off by
a. Bonnie and Clyde
b. Captain Kangaroo
c. Billy Graham
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

14. In 2012, the American Embassy in Egypt was stormed and the American flag was burned by:
a. the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu
b. former Governer Mitt Romney
c. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

15. In 2012, the American consulate in Libya was stormed and the American Ambassador was killed by:
a. Barak Hussein Obama
b. the unrepentent terrorist, Bill Ayers
c. Rahm Emmanuel and David Axelrod
d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Remember, Reflect, Respect

Speech from the Keynote Speaker:

Thank you, Commander Apol. My fellow veterans, our families and friends, welcome to the almost 100th year anniversary of Memorial Day here in Lake Worth. Thanks to the clergy for their prayers and to the Honor Guard detail.

Look around and see the great job done by our Boy Scouts from Troop 204 in placing the flags and crosses for our honored dead and let us further give thanks to those who made today’s celebration possible: The city’s workers for their assistance, our American Legion Post 47, and the true driving force, the Ladies Auxiliary.Without them, there would be no celebration like we have here today.

Take a moment to recall why we are here and keep in mind three special R’s for this Memorial Day. They are REMEMBER, REFLECT RESPECT.

Note the flag flying at half mast. By custom and tradition, it will fly this way until noon to recognize the sacrifices of those who have gone before us, and at noon, it will be raised to full staff to celebrate their accomplishments in war and in peace.

What greater honor can we bestow on these men and women than to recall some words in our Pledge of Allegiance… where we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United State of America…. Old Glory’s 50 stars and 13 stripes today evolved from the original 13 stars and stripes on the first national flag.

When our honored dead served and fought under the colors, no matter what design, there was no thought given to any hyphenated Americans, they served one nation, under God. Indivisible – meaning you cannot break it down further. Our brothers and sisters resting here are now one with their maker.So why today do some insist on separating us by ethnic backgrounds, religious ideals, or life styles? We are Americans all!

Indivisible! With liberty and justice for all – the beauty or our great nation is that we are constantly working to better ourselves.Sure it’s true that discrimination existed – and still does – but we have the finest nation on the face of the earth.Made so in no small part by those who lie here.

REMEMBER, REFLECT, RESPECT

Remember their sacrifices. Whether they enlisted or were drafted, they answered the call and served to the utmost of their ability.

Reflect on what they accomplished – who they did it for, why, and against what odds.

Respect them for that service.

To the politicians present, greetings, and I ask you too to remember, reflect, and respect, not by lip service but in positive actions relating to veteran affairs.

Here in Lake Worth, two matters come to mind immediately. On North Federal Highway at Worthmore Avenue, there was a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker and that marker is in dire need of repair or replacement. Help us, the Legion and the Lake Worth Town and Country Garden Club, fix that problem and restore it with pride to honor all veterans. We have the funds; you help us with the paperwork for the state.

And there is that small matter of a Veterans Day Parade in Lake Worth. Can the city find funding for an item so small in cost but huge in terms of respect? Remember we would not be living free today but for the service of these good men and women. Reflect on that and respect them with an “absolutely” to a parade this year.

In closing, I just want to say how grateful I am to be able to speak on their behalf. Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful, the motto of the United States Marine Corps, sums up their service. Thank you, and don’t forget

REMEMBER, REFLECT, RESPECT

Peter J. Matthews

Captain, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret'd)

Commissioner Jo-Ann Golden gives tribute to our fallen soldiers

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I am truly honored to speak on this Memorial Day in the presence of all of these fallen heroes. I am extremely proud to be in the presence of many of our residents who have served in the armed forces of our nation and are here today to pay their respects to those men and women who perished in the fulfillment of their duty.

During the Second World War my father worked in the shipyards in Brooklyn New York in service to our Country. My uncles served in the Army and Navy. My older cousins served in Korea. My Mom was an air raid warden and I hid under the kitchen table when there was talk of imminent bombings. As I got older I watched my friends go and come back from Vietnam. I worked for peace, and came to understand St Augustine’s 4th Century claim, that “the purpose of war is peace.” I was always hoping that all our wars would ultimately bring solutions and that peace would be the ultimate norm.

Today, as we honor those who served our Nation, we must remember that it is “we the people” who have asked them to fight our battles. The men and women of the armed forces do not get to choose the battles to fight. They serve because it is their duty. They serve because they are true patriots. For the 230 years of U.S. history we must think of all the brave men and women who have served during our many wars keeping us safe in this land of the free.

In 2007 the City of Lake Worth Commission passed a resolution asking our leaders in Washington to bring our troops home from Iraq. At that time over 160 Florida service men and women were killed in action and more than 130 were wounded. This past year one of our own Lake Worth High Graduates 19 year old Jose Hernandez was killed in Afghanistan. We asked in this resolution that our returning troops be ensured compensation and care including full mental and physical health, education, housing, employment, and disability and rehabilitation benefits.

Today there are more conflicts and the deaths continue to mount. Historian, Will Durant, estimated that in all of human history only 29 years could be described as free of war. And of all centuries, the one just past set records for deaths, and injuries. We must assure our service men and women that we do not falter in our support for them. We must assure our service men and women that we do not put them in harms way frivolously. We must reassure our service men and women that we will honor their bravery, and humility. This is our duty.

Thank you to the Boy Scouts, the American Legion, our City staff, and all of our residents and guests who have come out to honor those who have served our Nation.

Vice Mayor Pro-Tem
Jo-Ann Golden
Pinecrest Cemetery
May 30, 2011