Gov. Perrry commends the Boy Scouts of America

Gov. Rick Perry (photo) Commends the Valor and Prestige of the Boy Scouts of America

Gov. Rick Perry today spoke to Texas Boy Scouts at their Annual Report to State, where troops from throughout Texas convene at the Capitol to present their area’s status of scouting to state officials.

"Whenever I see Scout on a young man’s resume, his job application rises to the top of the stack because I know he has been tested, I know he has character, and I know he is loyal," Gov. Perry told the scouts. "The mark of a Scout is more than a fleur de lis tagged on a man’s lapel. It is a testament to an individual’s commitment to a power larger than self, and perseverance to defend what is right regardless of the difficulties that may lie ahead."

For one day each year, downtown Austin becomes a sea of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Sea Scouts from across Texas. The troops and their families march down Congress Avenue to the Capitol. From there, Scout delegates from each council go to the floor of the House of Representatives and report to state leaders on scouting activities from the past year, and plans for the future.

"As today’s culture increasingly tells young people to ‘look out for number one,’ that ‘moral values are relative,’ that ‘a person can be their own God,’ attacks have come in waves against the values and institutions we hold dear," said Gov. Perry. "Yet the Boy Scouts have stood strong, unwavering in their conviction. And for that, I am as proud as ever to be an Eagle Scout." Gov. Perry recently authored a book on the Boy Scouts titled "On My Honor."

The book draws from the governor’s own experiences growing up in Paint Creek – a small community north of Abilene, Texas – where he witnessed the central role scouting played in shaping young boys into men. The governor is an Eagle Scout in Troop 48. His son, Griffin, is also an Eagle Scout.