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Morgan Wall/The News
Raven Knob plays host to Boy Scouts from across the country during the summer as they learn new skills, earn merit badges and some even get inducted into the Order of the Arrow during a special ceremony each week.
The Old Hickory Council, which serves eight counties including Surry, is hosting A Shining Light at BB&T Ballpark, the new home of the Winston-Salem Dash, that afternoon and evening. The event will feature a live satellite feed from the Centennial Celebration Show at the National Jamboree to honor the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.
The National Jamboree kicked off yesterday and lasts about 10 days. It draws scouts from across the country and even around the world to participate in activities, earn merit badges and get to know each other. However, not all scouts are able to make the trip. Because this is the 100th anniversary of the scouting program in America, the national council wanted all scouts to be able to participate in the celebration event.
“My understanding is that it is a way to participate in the National Jamboree,” said Ken Badgett, historian for the Old Hickory Council. “It’s a chance to mingle with scouts from this part of the state, too.”
“It’s for all scouts in the eight-county area of the Old Hickory Council. I think we have some coming from out of the area as well,” said Fred Patterson, district executive for the Old Hickory Council. “It’s for all scouts, their families and the general public as well. It’s a good way to link up on the jumbotron to participate if you couldn’t go. I think it will be a great event.”
Gates for the event open at 3 p.m. with an afternoon full of activities for people of all ages. The Dash Kids Zone will be set up for kids. For adults, the North Carolina Highway Patrol will have the DWI Golf Cart Challenge set up and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will have the Mobile 9-1-1 unit on the scene. There also will be a number of vendors and exhibits.
None of the Above, a Surry County bluegrass band, will perform at 5 p.m., leading up to the opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. A skydiver will enter the stadium and Virginia Foxx will present a flag that was flown over the nation’s Capitol building. All scouts in attendance will have the opportunity to participate in the parade of scouts where they will be able to enter the stadium by unit with their troop’s flag.
Revive, a Christian rock band out of Nashville and 2010 Dove Awards New Artist of the Year nominee, will perform a concert at 7 p.m.
Beginning at 8 p.m., the satellite feed from the National Jamboree will begin on the stadium’s jumbotron featuring special entertainment, celebrity guests and a salute to scouting. Following the show, there will be a candle lighting ceremony and rededication at 9:30 p.m. The scouts in attendance will be given glow sticks and asked to turn them on as the lights are dimmed during a presentation. There will be a fireworks finale at 9:45 p.m.
In addition, the Old Hickory Council will recognize the 12 people from the council nominated for the BSA 100th Anniversary National Hall of Leadership. The one winner from those 12 who will be inducted also will be named that night.
The National Hall of Leadership was created as part of the 100th anniversary celebration to gather stories and share the impact scouting leadership has on communities. Anyone was able to recognize outstanding leadership by a scout, registered leader or scouting volunteer during the nomination period. Across the country, more than 7,000 people were nominated. All nominee stories will be included in the BSA 100th anniversary archive at the National Scouting Museum, but only one person from each council will be inducted into the National Hall of Leadership.
Tickets for the Shining Light event are $7 with children 5 and younger getting in for free. They can be purchased through the Old Hickory Council’s Web site. Around 1,000 people have already signed up to participate and organizers hope many more will in the coming days. The stadium will hold around 5,000 people.
“It’s at the new ballpark so it’s a chance for folks to get out and see it. There will be lots of activities. There’s an hour-long concert which should be fun and people will get to see some fireworks,” said Badgett. “It should be a fun evening.”
For more information, visit the Old Hickory Council’s Web site at www.oldhickorycouncil.org.
Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.
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