THE SCOUTING REPORT: Troop to Troop

In the New York area, over 20 percent of us can trace some of our roots back to Ireland. Most people know that one of the most famous Americans of Irish descent was John F. Kennedy, our 35th president.

August 23, 2013
3 min read
A18 SCOUTING

A18 SCOUTINGIn the New York area, over 20 percent of us can trace some of our roots back to Ireland. Most people know that one of the most famous Americans of Irish descent was John F. Kennedy, our 35th president.

 

By Christopher Parker

 

A18 SCOUTINGIn the New York area, over 20 percent of us can trace some of our roots back to Ireland. Most people know that one of the most famous Americans of Irish descent was John F. Kennedy, our 35th president.

 

He visited Ireland four times as a university student and young journalist.   He kept going back because he was interested in his heritage. But the most important of his trips to Ireland was the time he went during his presidency. He went, as usual, to the hometown of his great-grandfather, where his aunt Mary and cousins still lived, and gave some very influential speeches.

 

This year, the town of New Ross held a celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of JFK’s visit. Hundreds of people from around the world came to this celebration, and I was lucky enough to be one of them. Not only did I visit it, but I also got to participate in it.

 

I am a Boy Scout, and a member of Rye Troop 2. Our troop takes part in a variety of activities that often get reported in this newspaper. I feel that I’m not only a Rye Boy Scout, but also an American Boy Scout, and a representative of my town and country. The Boy Scout Organization worldwide also has individual groups that focus on special activities, one of which is the Sea Scouts. Ireland is an island, full of streams and canals. The whole population loves boating; they sail, many own kayaks, and they love to be around water during their free time. So, Sea Scouts is a very fitting organization for them.

 

A few weeks before the New Ross anniversary, I got in touch with one of the leaders of the New Ross Sea Scouts. We both thought it would be an interesting experience for all if I met their troop, gave a small talk about Rye Troop 2, and answered their questions.

 

When I met them, they were enthusiastic. A lot of them had never met an American before. They had a lot of questions: what foods U.S teen-agers like, what bands we listen to, how hard our homework is, and things like that. I helped them design and make red, white, and blue panels, to be carried by a group of local Scouts, making a big American flag.

 

I represented Rye in the commemorative Irish parade, which was held in the streets of New Ross in honor of the 1963 visit. Our uniforms were completely different colors, and I stuck out like a sore thumb! But kids are kids … in Ireland, too, and I felt very welcome there.

 

Sea Scouts and Boy Scouts aren’t exactly the same, but marching in the parade gave me a firsthand look at what their community is like. I think that traveling is great because you experience what other people are like in other cultures.

 

I hope to return to Ireland soon, maybe with my whole troop next time.

 

The author, 13, is a student at Resurrection Grammar School.

 

Filed Under:
Subscribe and get freshly baked articles. Join the community!
Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.

kuwin

iplwin

my 11 circle

betway

jeetbuzz

satta king 786

betvisa

winbuzz

dafabet

rummy nabob 777

rummy deity

yono rummy

shbet

kubet

winbuzz

daman games

winbuzz

betvisa

betvisa

betvisa

baji999

marvelbet

krikya

Dbbet

Nagad88

Babu88

Six6s

Bhaggo

Elonbet

yono rummy

rummy glee

rummy perfect

rummy nabob

rummy modern

rummy wealth

jeetbuzz

iplwin

yono rummy

rummy deity

rummy app

betvisa

lotus365

hi88

8day

97win

n88

red88

king88

j88

i9bet

good88

nohu78

99ok

bet168

betvisa

satta king

satta matta matka

betvisa

mostplay

4rabet

leonbet

pin up

mostbet

rummy modern

Fastwin Login

Khela88

Fancywin

Jita Ace

Betjili

Betvisa

Babu88

jeetwin

nagad88

jaya9

joya 9

khela88

babu88

babu888

mostplay

marvelbet

baji999

abbabet

Jaya9

Mostbet

MCW

Jeetwin

Babu88

Nagad88

Betvisa

Marvelbet

Baji999

Jeetbuzz

Mostplay

Jwin7

Melbet

Betjili

Six6s

Krikya

Jitabet

Glory Casino

Betjee

Jita Ace

Crickex

Winbdt

PBC88

R777

Jitawin

Khela88

Bhaggo