http://pgr.pxxq.com/pack42.html

We had SEVENTEEN scouts!

and when I got home, I found this from FaceBook:

Stacey Houston:  Donald, I just want to say what a wonderful job the boys ( and girls) did tonight- they were extremely respectful, and so strong, death is a hard thing to understand at such a young age - but to Stand in a Patriot Line and do it w pride and honor - for a solider they've never met- that's amazing!

The difference they will make is nothing short of legendary.

Again as an Army wife and mother - Thank you!!

Community Service Opportunity
for Monday evening, 11/7/11
former Cub Scout David Robinson

David Robinson was a Cub Scout of Pack 24 and a Boy Scout of Troop 24, both based at the Forrestal Chapel in the navy housing, one mile north of LBES. According to the News-Sun:

He was a Cub and Boy Scout who liked camping and canoeing. He was a Bears and Cubs fan and liked playing college fantasy football. He and his wife were married on Valentine’s Day 2003. Emily went to Zion-Benton Township High School while he went to St. Joseph High School in Kenosha, Wis. They met at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee where they both worked, and they went to his prom his senior year. Robinson enlisted because of the aftermath of 9/11.

David died in Saudi Arabia on October 25th. He was a soldier, a senior NCO. His sons are Cub Scout age: Matthew is 7 and Jackson is 4. His remains will arrive at the Waukegan Airport Sunday morning and he will be buried in Libertyville on Tuesday.

Pack 42 has been invited by David’s family to help during the visitation for David on Monday. From 5:00 until 9:00 at Congdon Funeral Home in Zion we will stand outside, holding the doors for the people going in and out, just as the scouts of Pack 42 held those same doors three years ago during the visitation for John Penich, a soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Pack 24, David’s pack, will be joining Pack 42 at David’s visitation. Pack 42 has a tradition of supporting nearby military funerals in this way. We served in Wildwood for Joey Dimmock and we served in Antioch for Andrew Wade. It’s not a political statement – it’s just the way we say “We Support Our Troops”.

Generally, the visitation is located near the lake, due east of Camp Oakaro. The best way to get there is to use Highway 41 to go north 11 miles to Wadsworth Road. (As you approach that intersection you will see a Citgo on the left and a Mobil on the right.) Turn right to go east on Wadsworth Road toward Zion for 6 miles. Turn left in Zion on Sheridan Road to go north a half-mile. Congdon, 3012 Sheridan, is on the left.

Car-pooling by den might be helpful. Arrive anytime after 4:30 and find Don Russ near the door of the facility. Stay any length of time. Take as many breaks as you want. The only requirement is respectful service while your scout is holding the door or holding a flag. And any Pack 42 scout can do that!

Friday, November 11th is Veterans Day. Pack 42 will conduct a flag-raising ceremony at LBES, as we do every year. Veterans get their own day because veterans are special. They volunteered to die for their country if necessary. Sometimes it is necessary. Since September 11, 2001, 20 American warriors from Lake County, Illinois have died in the Iraq and Afghanistan operations. They are Wade, Dimock, Penich, Saczek, Weinger, Vasquez, Ochsner, Wells, Lisk, Davis, Giamo, Carrasquillo, Maher, Farmer, Giannopoulous, Moreno, Syverson, Morris, Singh and now David Robinson.

-Don

back to Pack 42

P.S.  From the obit, (1) David was born in Lake Forest, and (2) guests attending the visitation are requested to wear "Chicago Bears attire".  (We will wear Class-A Cub Scout uniforms, of course.)

P.P.S.  Two months later, representatives from the Patriot Guard Riders visited us during our pack meeting.

The scouts were individually congratulated and awarded "Honor Guard" patches.