Troop 313 was chartered in 1993.

It's Only A Pin

Two fond parents watch their boy where he stands,
Apart from his comrades tonight,
And see placed on his camp-battered tunic, a badge...
An Eagle... the emblem of right.

It seems just a few short months have passed
Since he joined with the youngsters next door...
How proud they were then of their Tenderfoot pin
As they told of the message it bore.

But the years have gone as he struggled along
To learn what the Scout Law's about;
He practiced them daily, the Oath and the Law,
Until now he is an Eagle Scout.

You may smile in your worldly wisdom at this
And say, "Why it's only a pin."
But I'll tell you, no honors he'll gain as a man
Will mean quite as much to him.

The red, white and blue of the ribbon you see
Are the symbols of honor and truth.
He has learned how to value these fine attributes
In the glorious days of his youth.

And the out-flinging wings of the Eagle that rests
On the breast of this knight of today
Are the wings which will lift him above petty deeds,
And guide him along the right way.

Yes, it's only a pin, just an Eagle Scout badge,
But the heart beneath it beats true,
And will throb to the last for the things that are good;
A lesson for me... and for you.

Fond parents watch their boy where he stands
apart from his friends tonight
as they place on his camp-battered tunic, a badge
an eagle, the emblem of right

It seems just a few short months have passed
since he joined with the youngsters next door
how proud he was the of his new scout badge
as he told them the message it bore.

But the years have gone as he struggled along
to learn what the scout law's all about
he practiced them daily, the oath and the law
until now he's an Eagle Scout.

You may smile in your worldly old wisdom at this
and say, "Why it's only a pin."
But I tell you, no honors he'll gain as a man
will mean as much to him.

The red, white, and blue of the ribbon you see
are the symbols of honor and truth
he has learned how to value these fine attributes
in the glorious days of his youth.

And the outflinging wings of the eagle scout badge
on the breast of this knight of today
are the things which will lift him above petty deeds
and guide him along the right way.

Yes, it's only a pin, just an eagle scout badge
but the heart that's beneath it beats true
and will throb to the last for the things which are good
a lesson ......for me....... and for you.
 

S. Kurtz Hingley, 1931
Poem originally published in the Quaker City Scout, a newsletter of the Philadelphia Council.
Published in Scouting magazine in May 1931.
 

Last Revised: November 27, 2009