Mangano, Thousands Honor 100th Anniversary of Eagle Scout Award

Thousands of spectators joined 2,000 plus marchers in Nassau County for the Eagle Scout Centennial Parade last month.

Nassau's Theodore Roosevelt Council of Boy Scouts of America and the National Eagle Scout Association, sponsored the parade and commemorative ceremony in Rockville Centre Sept. 6 to pay tribute to more than two million Eagle Scouts in America.

Guests included Eagle Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Police Explorer Scouts, Boy Scout leaders and dignitaries, including Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.

The Boy Scouts was founded in 1910 and in 1912, Arthur R. Eldred, of Rockville Centre, N.Y. became the very first Eagle Scout. As a young boy Eldred moved to Long Island and joined a Troop in the Nassau Council, in Rockville Centre. The ceremony paid special tribute to the Eldred. Eldred's family members were on hand for the event.

“For 100 years scout leaders, families and friends have encouraged and supported boys here in Nassau County to follow Eldred’s example and work to achieve the rank of Eagle,” said Jay Garee, Scout Executive/CEO, TRC-BSA. 

Since 1912, more than two million young men have achieved the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award. In addition to Eldred, Eagle Scouts include the late Pres. Gerald Ford, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and astronaut Neil Armstrong.