Local Troop Shows ‘Warrior Spirit’ At Camp

By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress

A local Boy Scout troop received some regional attention following a week-long adventure at Camp Thunder Ridge in southern Utah held June 12-17.

The boys and leaders of Logandale Troop 26 were featured in a special blog post which was published on the Utah National Parks Council website, written by council official and camp commissioner Kevin Hunt.

In the post, Hunt said that the troop had caught his attention on the second night of the camp when the local boys volunteered to present a campwide flag ceremony. He recognized that the boys of Troop 26 were visitors at the Utah National Parks Council camp; coming instead from the Las Vegas Area Council. Nevertheless, he said he was very impressed by their presentation.
“They were decked out in absolute perfect uniform – all of them,” Hunt wrote. “Boy were they impressive. Anytime I see a full troop in complete uniform I get excited; but these guys were amazing and magnificent.”

Upon further investigation during the week, Hunt said he learned that the impeccable uniforms were just the tip of the iceberg for Troop 26. The leaders and boys alike from this LDS Church-affiliated troop told him that they had cultivated a sense of unity through a successful integration of Scouting with their religious principles.
“We are set up to ensure first and foremost that the Scouts are understanding of … their duty to God,” Burt said. “Close unto it, would be our commitment to the Boy Scouts of America organization which complements their goals.”

The troop’s mascot, the Warriors, also had special religious significance, Hunt learned. It referred to an important character in the Book of Mormon: Captain Moroni. Moroni was known as a righteous warrior and leader of a great army of men who were fully devoted to fighting for their freedom, their religion, their peace and their families.

This ideal and its focus upon standing strong on religious and moral grounds; coupled with the all-in commitment to the symbolic Scout uniform; had fostered a strong unity in the troop.

Asked about the warrior ideal, Troop 26 Senior Patrol Leader Kolson said, “It stands for our troop pride. Something to live up to – to look forward to. Always one step higher. Its always cool to have someone to look up to – and for us it is Captain Moroni and we try to represent him the best we can.”

Troop member Maxwell said that the warrior ideal “…gives us a sense of unity and togetherness. We don’t just show up. It gives us a purpose to keep our shirts tucked in and to look sharp. We are warriors and we are together. Everybody all looks the same – we can see our other guys and it gives us a lot of pride to do it together as friends.”

Hunt said that he was greatly impressed by the actions, presentation and commitment of the boys and leaders of Troop 26.
“The Warrior Spirit came to Thunder Ridge,” Hunt wrote, “and we are all better because of their example to us and the great Warrior Spirit that they brought to share. It doesn’t get much better than this.”

Hunt’s blog post can be read in its entirety at http://blog.utahscouts.org/boy-scouting/camp-thunder-ridge-here-come-the-warriors/