THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 20, 1996 TAG: 9607200212
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Charlise Lyles
LENGTH: 73 lines
Something more American than the 4th of July and apple pie happened on Thursday night.
This will be my last column for The Virginian-Pilot, and I had thought of writing about all the wonderful things I'll miss about this place called Hampton Roads:
The full moon over the 44 Expressway. The man who walks Granby Street reciting all the numbers of his life from his birth date to military-discharge date. And walking on a pink carpet of crape myrtle blossoms in July.
But Thursday night was so special. Why?
Archie Nelson III faced the Eagle Scout Board.
Eagle is the highest rank in Boy Scouting, only 2 percent of 1.5 million Scouts make it. Most are age 17 or 18. Archie is 14.
The chosen have character, demonstrated leadership ability, and 21 merit badges: Outdoorsman, aquanaut, personal finance, citizen, scientist . . . Archie has 26.
In a pew of First Baptist Church Bute Street in Norfolk, Archie waited, smiling and tugging at his sash of merit badges.
His dad, Archie Nelson Jr., and mom, Carrol, paced as if awaiting a birth.
It was not a birth, but a definite rite of passage for an only son, born late in their lives.
Inside a cubby hole of a room, four men and I prepared to interview Archie.
``It's been a long time since we've had an Eagle Scout in our jurisdiction,'' said one.
The men are the elder Scouts of Troop 77, one of Norfolk's first black troops, chartered in 1931. I was there as a community representative.
``Call the young man in,'' said George W. Dahl, the eternally effervescent troop master and district advancement chairman.
The lights dimmed. Archie entered. In a solemn tone, Charles Pittman Jr. read an oath by flashlight. He lighted the red, white and blue candles on the wooden Boy Scout emblem.
Archie ordered the Boy Scout salute, crisp and clean. Then another oath in hushed voices: ``I promise to do my best . . .''
First question: ``We're impressed with your bicycle safety project in the housing project,'' said Charles Pittman Sr. To earn the Eagle, Archie raised $1,000 to purchase nearly 240 bicycle helmets and he conducted a safety workshop for youngsters.
``How will you continue your community service?''
Archie: ``Mainly by being a positive role model. You can watch TV and hang out with the wrong people or you can try to do something to be a success.''
Next question: ``Which merit badge was the hardest for you?'' asked Dahl.
Archie: ``The personal finance was the hardest. I get $20 per month for allowance. That gives me $5 a week to spend and save something. It's really hard because I tend to want to like . . . spend everything the minute I get it.''
The men relaxed, leaning back in their chairs. There was storytelling. ``When I became master chief . . .''
There was preaching. ``You've got to know the difference between right and wrong. Sincerity has nothing to do with it because you can be sincerely wrong.''
And there was advice: ``I'll be celebrating 50 years of marriage. Some day, you're going to want a wife. You've got to have somebody who's going to watch your back. Back to back into the world, nothing can stop you 'cause you're looking out for each other.''
And more advice: ``Son, no matter how much you learn, you'll need to have humility. Don't ever forget that.''
We OK'd Archie. Now it's up to a national board.
This was the village raising the child.
And this is what I will miss most, that sense of caring and community wherever you go in Hampton Roads. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Archie Nelson III faced the Eagle Scout Board in Norfolk, and met
with their approval. by CNB