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Laingsburg Scouting: First in a Series
A Century of Values chair Corp embodies the Spirit of Laingsburg Scouting
by TOM TUREK
A Century of Values Team
THE COMMUNITY OF LAINGSBURG has been chosen as the Kickoff Community for a nationwide tour, called A Century of Values which will celebrate 100 years of Scouting in America. The gala celebration is being planned for February 7 and 8, 2009. This is the first in a series of articles saluting notable Laingsburg Scouts.
LAINGSBURG -- Through the years, through the changes in technology, as the winds of change blow through American culture, through video games and tainted home run records and fallen heroes, a constant has remained:
Scouting.
Specifically, the values learned by the boys and girls involved in Scouting. Through all the years, those values have been embraced by this community. All those Scouts and their achievements have been embraced, as well.
Scouting gained a foothold in the community in the 1920s, and the timeless values that Scouts learn are as relevant today maybe more so as they were in the early years. A Boy Scout strives to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Some of Laingsburg's finest sons grew to embody those qualities.
Darrell Corp is one of those favorite sons. The lifelong Laingsburg resident was hand-picked by the A Century of Values team to coordinate the local effort in his home community.
The A Century of Values caravan will make a 42,000-mile traverse through all of the continental U.S. , with the ambitious goal of visiting each Boy Scout Council. The journey starts the weekend of February 7-8, 2009, and will end one year later at the National Boy Scout Museum outside Dallas , Texas.
The starting point for this massive undertaking? Laingsburg. Why? Because the community has an incredibly rich tradition of Scouting, and represents the values that are at Scouting's core.
Darrell Corp learned those values growing up. His parents, Donald and Helen, were very active in the community, and he had other adult role models that he looked up to, as he mentions in the following interview. We sat down with Darrell to ask him about his Scouting heritage:
TUREK: Where did you get your start in Boy Scouts, Darrell?
MR. CORP: I began my Scouting as a Cub Scout in Pack 97, with Mrs. Mike Mansour as my den mother. We meant at her house (between the bank and post office) on the main street ( Grand River Ave. ). When I became a Boy Scout it was Troop 205, and as we became Explorer Scouts it was Explorer Post 205. Our Scoutmasters were John Austin and Carl Veith. We all took part in the many activities, and we were friends with everyone.
TUREK: Who were the most influential adults to you growing up in Laingsburg?
MR. CORP: My parents and Scoutmasters were most influential, as were those adults who served as merit badge counselors.
TUREK: Tell us about the nature of those Scout meetings. Where were they held?
MR. CORP: Cub Scout meetings were at the Mansours. As a Boy Scout we met first at the Methodist Church in the (old) Pine Room, and then we moved to the old Legion Hall uptown. We started in the main hall and eventually took over the upstairs as ours. We meant once a week and worked on badges and advancement as well as conducting meetings and saving time for fun.
Our merit badge counselors were caring people in the community, both Fred Veith and his son, Fred J., Harry Gray and Lyle Ginther, to name a few.
TUREK: How far did you advance in Scouting?
MR. CORP: My highest rank was First Class and I was Troop Bugler. I also served as a Den Master for a Cub Scout den.
TUREK: What is your most memorable moment as a Boy Scout?
MR. CORP: My most memorable merit badge was Life Saving at the Owosso High School pool, which led to later receiving a certificate for Water Safety Instructor. I also was one of the first in Laingsburg to receive the God And Country award.
TUREK: Tell us about some of the great times you had as a Scout.
MR. CORP: Summer camps were first at Camp Pine Lake and then at Camp Tapico. We always had a great time. On occasion I would get to bugle for the main camp. My most vivid memory is of the two weeks we spent, the first week at Outpost Camp and the second week canoeing down the Manistee River .
TUREK: What other special things did you do as Scouts?
MR. CORP: The troop formed an Indian dance team and preformed all over at various events, and also took part in the National Jamboree at Philmont (Scout Ranch, near Cimarron , New Mexico ). My greatest memories are many but the greatest is remembering the friendships that were formed and still continue today.
TUREK: What has Scouting meant to you throughout your life?
MR. CORP: The Scouting experience has meant a great deal to me. Learning and living by the twelve steps of the Scout Law even to this day has enriched my life and will continue to do so. (The Scout Oath: On my honor I will do my best, To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight).
TUREK: What would you say to a youngster who is thinking about joining Scouts?
MR. CORP: I would advise any youngster boy or girl to become a Scout. Learn, live and have fun!