PHILMONT "Journey of a Boy Scout Troop" Be Prepared

Philmont "Journey of a Boy Scout Troop" Be Prepared is a True story. This all black Boy Scout Troop and five adult leaders were the first to intergrate the largest National Boy Scout Camping facility in the world. There as many as (10,000) Boy Scouts participating in Training and Survival excercises in the rugged back country and wilderness venues at "Philmont" while on (50)mile hikes. These Boy Scouts were recommended and recruited as the all regions Best of the Best in scouting by their respective Scoutmasters and Troop Committee members. The hailed from all regions across the State of Louisiana ny way of big cities, small rural towns and bayou communities. During this time period in American history "Segregation" was the law of the land and "Jim Crow Law" said No Colored/Negroes are not allowed to "MIX" with White people and use their facilities. This meant Movie Theaters, Swimming Pools, Beaches, Hotels and Restaurants, Retail Shopping stores, Bus lines, Passenger Trains, Secondary and university schools, Bathrooms, Water Fountains and Boy Scout and Girl Scout Camps as well. President Lyndon Johnson signed into to federal law the 1964 Civil Rights Act Title VII abolishing "Segregation" and the Boy Scouts of America was one of the few to fully intergrate races of Black Scouts and White Scouts at the 1964 National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and later Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico in 1966. Expedition E-815 was part of that group of scouters and adults to intergrate this camp. These scouts had to Train and Prepare for their experience at Philmont, fundraise money to cover the cost of their trip and seek further assistance from their parents, community businesses and church members to reach their Goal: Making it to Philmont. These scouts fully understood the principles used by the American Pioneer, they appreciated the inspiration of Nature by never leaving no Trace when using wilderness venues for scouting, they appreciated the thoughtful guidiance of adult leadership and shared their experiences with other scouts to visualize a Code of Ethics to last a "Lifetime". Their experience and training at "Philmont" was part of their "Life's Journey" it made them Self-Reliant as they Built Character and Integrity while Perpetuating their Faith and Freedom while changing from Boy's to Men upon their return to Base Camp after a (9)day Ordeal in the back country and wilderness venues of "Philmont". Upon their return home to Louisiana they were debriefed and told the True purpose of their "Philmont" experience was to prepare them for the "Vietnam War" which came two years later. Ten Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout of the twenty-one that Journeyed to Philmont and (9) were drafted into military service and sent to "Vietnam". Their are only (12) surviving members of the Twenty-one that Journeyed to Philmont back in 1966. On December 15, 2012, Woodrow Arthur, Lonnie Lebouf and Joseph G. Dorsey were inducted along with the Book "Philmont" Journey of a Boy Scout Troop, Be Prepared into the National Scouting Museum of the Boy Scouts of America in Irving, Texas.