Sessions Leads 100th Year Boy Scout Recognition Efforts

Office of Pete Sessions ^ | Apr 23, 2008 | Office of Pete Sessions

[fgoodwin]

Sessions Leads 100th Year Boy Scout Recognition Efforts

http://sessions.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=89413

Introduces Commemorative Coin, Garners Support for Commemorative Stamp

Washington, Apr 23, 2008

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) is leading congressional efforts to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America in 2010 by introducing legislation for a “100 Years of Scouting” commemorative coin.

“Boy Scouts are a significant part of American culture, shaping the values, citizenship, and skills of millions of young men,” Sessions stated. “As an Eagle Scout with four generations of Boy Scouts in my family, I strongly value the Boy Scouts’ history of instilling a sense of duty to God, country, and self.”

On April 22, 2008, Sessions introduced the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 5872) with the support of 297 Members of Congress as original cosponsors. Each year, only two commemorative coins are selected for U.S. Mint production, requiring at least 290 congressional cosponsors. Sessions’ legislation marks the second commemorative coin initiative in the House this year to meet the legislative criteria.

“From conservation to character building, the Boy Scouts’ 100th Anniversary celebrates the highest Scouting ideals of helping others and making communities stronger,” said Sessions. “I believe that a commemorative coin will be an important and influential symbol for Scouts of all ages, raising awareness of the importance of Scouting programs for future generations.”

In addition to the commemorative coin initiative, Sessions is also building support for a U.S. postage stamp to celebrate “100 Years of Scouting” for the Boy Scouts of America in 2010. Currently, Sessions has garnered the support of over 320 Senators and Members of Congress for a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General, requesting a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America. In 1960, the United States Postal Office celebrated the Boy Scouts of America’s 50th Anniversary with the introduction of the 4 cent commemorative stamp depicting a Scout holding up the Scout sign.

“Boy Scouts unites Americans from all walks of life, and I am very pleased with the strong bipartisan support in Congress and across our nation for the “100 Years of Scouting” commemorative coin and stamp,” Sessions noted. “I look forward to building additional support for the Boy Scouts’ historic recognition and championing their future success.”

Sessions’ father, former FBI Director Judge William S. Sessions, and his son, Bill Sessions, join him with the distinction of Eagle Scout. Sessions’ grandfather, William A. Sessions, Jr., wrote the first handbook for the God and Country Award for the Boy Scouts of America.

Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America is the largest youth organization in the United States, with 3 million youth members and 1 million adult leaders in the traditional programs of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing. Since 1910, over 111 million youth have participated in Scouting’s traditional programs. In the past 4 years alone, Scouting youth and their leaders have volunteered more than 6.5 million hours of service to their communities through more than 75,000 service projects, benefiting food banks, local schools, and civic organizations.

[fgoodwin]

Please ping your Scouting List.

[Domandred]

Anyone know when this commemorative coin will be available?

[RonF]

I can’t wait to see what the usual suspects have to say about this.

[Roccus]

[SandRat]

[PROCON]

Boy Scout Ping!

[fgoodwin]

According to the legislation, the US Mint is authorized to issue the coins between February 8, 2010, and before January 1, 2011. They will probably be available long after that on the resale market, at higher markups.

Scouters will recognize Feb 8, 2010 as the actual date of the 100th anniversary of BSA.

The text of the legislation is available here:

http://www.coinnews.net/2008/04/28/boy-scouts-of-america-silver-dollar-centennial-commemorative-coin-4056/
http://tinyurl.com/5wvoc8

[gitmo]

I’m supposed to be on a campout tonight. But I’ve worked so many hours the last few weeks that I didn’t get packed in time. Scouting is the greatest.

[Scoutmaster]

I've met some Scouters who had fascinating collections of Scouting stamps from around the world. The U.K. issued a 50p coin to celebrate the Centenary of Scout last summer. I was lucky and got mine at Gilwell Park during the 21st World Scout Jamboree.