The Arrow of Light for the Fishers, Indiana Scouts
The Arrow of Light is one of the most prized awards in scouting. It represents a cub scout’s completion of all requirements and the entry into the Boy Scouts. If you have never attended a Blue and Gold banquet, believe me when I tell you it is a very big deal.
I was a cub scout and a boy scout. I was really into the scouting experience. This is where I first learned to play with knives and axes. We slept outside and learned to build fires. We hiked with the military at Wright Paterson Air Force base. We even camped out in the snow. Of course we also made pictures from macaroni and paper plates and sold a lot of pop corn. Some of my very first woodworking was making pine wood derby cars. If any of this makes sense to you or is similar in your experience, then you know the arrow of light is a transitional moment in a young scouts life.
When I was approached with the idea of making award plaques for the local scouts, I was more than happy to do so. The scout master stopped by and we started making little samples to select a design. The he threw a curve ball at me. How to attach the arrows. Arrows? What arrows? Now it is often customary that the scout receive an arrow head as a symbol of becoming a man. The leaders wanted to mount arrows on the plaque. They were planning to screw cup hooks into my plaques or maybe just holes to tie a string or pegs. I had viewed several similar awards on the internet and they just didn’t seem right to me. I had not really planned on making racks instead of plaques. Now I had to figure out how to mount them. I remembered my vow, “I promise to do my best”, from so many years ago.
Now just off the back of my little basement shop is an unfinished little room. This is where the furnace and water heater reside and there is a wash basin( it is also the laundry room) where I often clean up tools or wash things off. I was standing at the basin looking up when I saw the copper pipes suspended with plastic pipe holders. Hmmmmm, pipes are round and about the same size as an arrow. I wonder. I took one of the pipe holders off the beam (yes I now have a dangling pipe held with a coat hanger) and traced it onto a piece of wood. This might just work.
I fabricated the little holders and mounted them on the plaques with dowels wedged from the back.. These hold the arrow not unlike a gun rack. I thought to myself, “Wow” I just got a lousy cardboard certificate when I passed through!”. But sour grapes aside, I think the boys were pleased. I hope it means more to them later in life than it does now. I rather imagine it will mean the most when their sons reach the same and this is how it should be. Tradition, handed down from father to son, the unbroken cycle in the walk of life. This is the Arrow of Light.
Peace
George
Support your local Scouts!
16 comments
Wednesday 14 Sep 2011 | admin | Uncategorized
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I was the Cub Master that George referred to in his blog. The plaques turned out GREAT! THey were a big hit. Hat’s off to George for designing the arrow hangers, too. My idea would have worked with the cup pulls, but would have been pretty cheesey. George’s design blended seamlessly with the cherry wood plaques.
George and Fishers’ Laser Carvers get a BIG thumbs up from Pack 190.
Thanks,
Mark C.
Hi, I am interested in the pricing of the Arrow of light plaque.
I am very interested in getting 4 of these plaques for my boys crossing over. can you give me a price and an estimate on when I can get them delivered.
Thanks,
Phyllis Rogers
Cubmaster
Pack 312
Canton, NC
I am interested in the pricing of your AOL plaques and arrows. Could you let me know the cost.
Thank you.
Lisa
Pack 46
Wesley Chapel, NC
I am interested in getting several (5 or 7) AOL plaques. Depending on the price! Could you give me an estimate and when I could have them delivered?
Thank you,
Martha
Pack 1180
Texas
I am interested in getting several 8 AOL plaques. Depending on the price! Could you give me an estimate and when I could have them delivered?
Thank you,
Betty
Pack 518
Texas
Hi! I’m interested in getting 1 of these plaques. Could you let me know how much it would be and if its possible to get it by the 2nd week in May 2013? Thank you!
HI George! I’m interested in your arrow of light plaques. I have 9 Webelos scouts. Please let me know the price so I can present it to the scouts. Thanks for all you do.
Susan T.
Hello I am very interested in getting 6 of these plaques for my boys AOL ceremony. can you give me a price.
THANK YOU,
MARIEL PEREZ
PACK 42
PUERTO RICO
Can you please quote us for 10 going to Southern California, zip 92870?
Can you give me a price for three of these awesome plaques? Our boys will be crossing over in April. Thanks!!
we are located in Delta, Ohio
I love the Arrow of light plaques could you tell me how much it would be for three boys. we have a small pack and I will be paying for them. Thank you
Ohio
I am interested in a few of these AOL plaques. Depending on the price! Could you give me an estimate and the earliest I could have them delivered?
Thank you! They are beautiful.
We are in MA
I was excited to see Fishers IN. Grew up in Indpls. & took drum lessons many years ago in Fishers. I am now in NC and have 17 boys that need fitting AOL plaques. I would like to get pricing details & ordering details.
YIS
Sue
I am interested in pricing for your Arrow of Light Cub Scout plaques. We are getting information out to our parents in September/October to decide on a plaque. We look forward to hearing from you. We are hoping to order 9 plaques
George,
I am interested in pricing detail for your Arrow of Light Cub Scout plaques. We are getting information out to our parents in October to decide on a plaques for a December crossover. We look forward to hearing from you. We would need to order 11 plaques.
Kind regards,
Tim