I have two cousins in California, Evan and Jordon. They are still Boy Scout age. This is something the Boy Scout Troop they are in have been up too.
Word went out to the leaders of the Pacific Skyline Council of the Boy Scouts of America. “A Soldier is coming home from the war on August 13th at SFO at 9:39pm, Northwest Flight 6347. He has served 15 months in Afghanistan, and has earned the Bronze Star for Valor!” That was all, but it was enough. As a Cub Scout Leader and parent, I knew this was an important activity for our young scouts. My own children often thank members of the military for their service when we see them in town or when we are traveling. For years our Pack has helped “plant” flags at the Golden Gate National Cemetery every Memorial Day. Here was a chance for them to do something more. Not only could this be a wonderful thing for the soldier returning home, but this could be a real life example of two of the aims of cub scouting -“character development and spiritual growth” and “habits and attitudes of good citizenship.” I immediately sent out an email to our Pack hoping that a few scouts might be in town and could join me at the airport.
Though our pack, located in Millbrae within sight of SFO, has about 40 boys organized by dens of 5 to10 boys of similar grade level, it turns out that not too many were in town this particular week. Things were further complicated when the soldier’s flight got changed to the middle of the day on Thursday, August 14. This presented a few logistical problems, but nothing compared to what the soldier and his family had sacrificed in service to our country. My son, Luca, and his friend Justin McGee are second graders and just beginning their second year of cub scouting. They were at a UK soccer camp on Thursday morning. It was a spirit day, so their faces were painted like Union Jacks, the flag of Great Britain. I picked them up at noon, whisked them home for a quick change into their uniforms and gave their faces a quick wash. Along with my older son, Dominic, who is a fifth grader and a second year Webelo (he is very close to completing all the Cub Scout requirements and will bridge to Boy Scouts in February), we headed to the airport.
Once at the airport, we found another family from our Pack. Jordan Kuklin is another second year Webelo and his brother Evan Kuklin is a Boy Scout with Troop 355, also in Millbrae. It turned out that their father, Steve Kuklin, had arranged to leave work and the boys had also left the UK soccer camp because they too saw the value of meeting this soldier who had done so much for our country. Eventually we also found the other groups who were meeting the soldier. At this time, he began to become more real to the boys. We met his older sister who told us the soldier’s name is Robert. We met Robert’s aunt who told us about their family history of service to our country. It seemed we were there a long time waiting for word of Robert’s arrival. As the scouts are still young, the waiting became difficult. However, it all faded away as the Guard Riders called us to arms and the scouts saluted Robert as he came through the doors. Cub Scouts salute with two fingers of their right hand placed to the bill of the uniform hat. Boy Scouts use three fingers in the same way. Our scouts were a little stunned when Robert came over to shake their hands (not once but twice) and they each got to thank him personally.
We all wanted to give him time with his family so we headed out of the airport shortly after he arrived. We were touched that Robert’s mother left his side to thank us for coming to meet her son. The boys saw that their actions had a direct positive effect on others. This was a powerful lesson in citizenship that could never be taught in a classroom, Den or Pack meeting. My son Luca said, “Mom, I can’t believe I have a friend who is a soldier!” We were all touched by this experience and look forward to participating again. We may even write to local Servicemen and Women serving our country overseas.
Julie DiMaio
Wolf Den Leader, Pack 355
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