Brookfield Troop 21 Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Reunion

“A Scout is Loyal.”

Loyalty is the second point of the Boy Scouts of America Scout Law, right behind ‘Trustworthy.” The dictionary defines loyal in terms of being faithful to a cause, custom or ideal. And this quality was demonstrated last Thursday night.

Boy Scout Troop 21, sponsored by Trinity United Church of Christ on Calhoun Road in Brookfield, has just celebrated its 40th anniversary. In recognition of this event, past members were invited back to reconnect to its past, celebrate its present efforts while also welcoming potential future members to the Troop. On a snowy evening on January 7, 2010, eighty-six people gathered to a simple but delightful pot-luck dinner in honor of this event at Trinity Church, the largest dinner the Troop has ever held.

Current awards included two rank advancements and over a dozen merit badges earned since just this past September. Speaker Mr. Otto Merz addressed the crowd on behalf of the local Potawatomi Council’s annual Friends of Scouting pledge drive. A small group of eight Cub Scouts and parents from nearby Pack 45 were also recognized for attending.

The highlight though was the first ever reunion of past Troop 21 members. While long term membership and other records were lost in a fire at Trinity church a few years ago, past members from approximately the last twelve years were invited back. A group of thirteen past Scouts now between ages 18-30 came back, the oldest having joined the Troop in 1991. This group also comprised of 12 Eagle Scouts (Troop 21 is known for a higher than average rate of achieving this highest rank in Scouting) and alumni came from all over Wisconsin, Minnesota and even Indiana. Past Scoutmasters Roger Johnson, Jerry Jach and Randy Stanford were also present, along with a number of past parents and other supporting leaders from years gone by.

On the larger scope, 2010 marks the National Boy Scouts of America’s 100th Anniversary as well. The BSA sponsored a float in the annual Rose Parade on New Years Day and countless events around the country are in the works.

Meanwhile Troop 21 here in Brookfield continues its relentless activity. In 2009 the Troop saw 23 Scout rank adnancements and 123 Merit badges earned, as well as two new Eagles among the membership according to present Scoutmaster Tom Held. This month, for example, a group of Scouts will be scuba diving locally (inside) while others in a few weeks will be “Polar Bear” camping (outside) in January. Multiple camping trips in and out of state are planned for the year. A select group will be paddling through the Boundary Waters from Minnesota into Canada while two others will head to Virginia this summer for the National Boy Scout Jamboree. Excursions in 2011 may even include Troop 21 returning to the BSA’s Sea Base in the Florida Keys, with Troop members having been there seven years ago.

All of this activity is rooted in the traditions of the past, of both the National BSA’s century of service to America and its youth, as well as locally in Troops like Brookfield’s Troop 21. And none of this could be possible without it leaders and dedicated community sponsors such as Trinity UCC Church. This is evident in the ongoing advancement in ranks, the ever-growing experience and leadership of its members, and the loyalty to its past, present and future. This all was faithfully demonstrated in the dinner and reunion last Thursday night for Troop 21 for all to see.

“A Scout is Loyal.”