Thunderbird District
Inland Northwest Council
Boy Scouts of America

Sample Eagle Scout Ceremony # 13
Picture Ceremony

(menu created with Tigra Menu Pro)

Want a double-spaced copy of this page in Microsoft Word format?
Clicking on this link will display this page in Microsoft Word
so you can print it or save it to your hard drive for printing later.

1. The central figure:
The chairman of the court explains that tonight he is going to draw a picture. The central figure in this picture is to be the candidate for the Eagle badge. The candidate is then asked to take his place, front and center on stage.

2. The background:
Continuing to explain, the chairman points out that the next step in drawing the picture is to fill in the background. For this purpose several persons are being asked to help with the presentation of the Eagle badge.

(Whenever possible each of the following persons should be used. After the chairman introduces them they take their places on stage, forming a semicircle in back of the Eagle Scout candidate.)

(a) National Council representative:
Each council in the United States is allowed one man for each 1000 boy members in the council, to represent the council on the National Council. In this council we have _____ men who are National Council representatives. We are fortunate this evening to have one of these men with us, Mr. _______________ of _______________. Because the Eagle Scout badge is presented directly from the National Council, we are going to ask Mr. _______________ to be the first man in this picture, and will ask him later to be the first man to start the Eagle badge on it's journey to the candidate.

(b) Council officers:
The council officers are the council president, vice-presidents, treasurer, the district chairmen who represent their district on the council executive board, members and council committee chairmen appointed by the council president. Because the National Council forwards the Eagle badge to the local council to be awarded, we will ask Mr. _______________ of _______________ who is the council _______________, to take his place in our picture next to the National Council representative.

(c) District officers:
The District officers of our _______________ (Thunderbird) District are the district chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the district committee, appointed by the district chairman. As the National Council forwards the Eagle badge to the council to be awarded, so the council forwards the badge to the district. We will therefore ask Mr. _______________ of _______________, who is the district _______________ to take his place in our picture next to the council officer.

(d) Eagle candidate's pastor, rabbi, or religious leader:
The institution which helps all of us most is the church, synagogue, etc. from the cradle to the grave - she is ever with us. We are proud that Scouting is privileged to help her in her work. We have asked the Eagle candidate's pastor, rabbi, or religious leader, to be with us for the awarding of this badge. Reverend/Rabbi/etc _______________ of the Church/Synagogue/etc _______________, may we ask you to take your place next to the district officer.

(e) School representative:
Another institution which helps us is the school. Many teachers have helped in the development of our candidate. We have asked one to speak for them all. (Mr./Mrs./Ms./etc. _______________ of the _______________ school. Will you please take your place in our picture next to the Reverend/Rabbi/etc _______________.

(f) Scoutmaster:
With the addition of the next person, the background of our picture will be almost complete. That person is the Eagle candidate's Scoutmaster. Mr./Mrs./Ms. _______________, Scoutmaster of Troop _____ of _______________. You must indeed feel recompensed for the many hours you have given voluntarily and cheerfully to the Scouts in your troop. Will you please take your place next to the school representative.

3. Supporting central figures:

CHAIRMAN: The picture is now complete except for the two people who have done the most for the Eagle candidate, his mother and father.

(He then asks the candidate to go into the audience and escort his mother and father to the stage. Place one on either side of the candidate.)

4. Explaining the Eagle requirements:

The chairman explains that the picture is now complete but that there are two other things to be asked of the candidate before the badge can be formally presented. One of them is that the Eagle candidate give a brief resume of what he did to earn the rank of Eagle.

(Eagle candidate should read from a statement prepared by him in advance. Not more than 200 to 300 words.)

5. Administration of the Scout Oath:
The other requirement is that the candidate rededicate himself to the Scout Oath.

(Candidate gives the Scout sign and repeats the Scout Oath after the chairman.)

6. Presentation of the badge:
Addressing the candidate the chairman informs him that it has been a pleasure to have had a part in the ceremony and that he is happy to award the badge to the National Council representative for presentation to the candidate. The National Council representative addresses the candidate and after a few remarks of a personal nature, ends by saying he is happy to present the badge to the council officer for presentation to the candidate.

The council officer, district officer, pastor/rabbi/religious leader, school representative, and Scoutmaster each in turn pass the badge to the next person after a few remarks addressed to the candidate.

The Scoutmaster presents the badge to the candidate's father, who in turn pins it over the heart of the candidate.

(The Eagle Scout will get a miniature Eagle badge from the chairman and present it to his mother.)
(flowers may be given if desired)

7. Congratulating the Eagle:
Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the Eagle ceremony. Anyone wishing to congratulate the Eagle and his parents are invited to do so.

(Form a receiving line in front of the room.)

(Follow with a reception, if desired.)

This page last updated: March 7, 2006