Just got a neat link into to the initial history for lodge 561 Penateka

561 History – click here

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Lodge 561 is the result of merger in Texas of 295 and 330. The lodge number used to be out of Utah but merged. It is the council number of the new Texas council. Here are a couple of notes just received:

>Evidence that the 561 OBV sets came in BEFORE the Charter member flaps (
>which are not in yet). E-mail is from Frank Hilton, retired Scout Exec.
>from Comanche Trail Council. www, Roger S.

>> Their new patches are in (Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil) but only given
>> to each officer (one for their honor) and none were made available for
>> sale tonight! Will be interesting to see if one can buy all three or
>> just the one for the honor they hold. No word on that. The Charter
>> member patches are not in yet.

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Received this from fellow collector Nick DeMarco. It reminds us to be thankful for our blessings not just during this season but throughout the year. Happy holidays to all!

THE CHRISTMAS SCOUT

by Sam Bogan

In spite of the fun and laughter, 13-year old Frank Wilson was not happy.
It was true he had received all the presents he wanted. And he enjoyed
the traditional Christmas Eve reunions with relatives for the purpose of
exchanging gifts and good wishes.

But, Frank was not happy because this was his first Christmas without
his brother, Steve, who during the year, had been killed by a reckless
driver. Frank missed his brother and the close companionship they had
together.

Frank said good-bye to his relatives and explained to his parents that
he was leaving a little early to see a friend; and from there he could
walk home. Since it was cold outside, Frank put on his new plaid jacket. It
was his FAVORITE gift. He placed the other presents on his new sled.
Then Frank headed out, hoping to find the patrol leader of his Boy
Scout troop. Frank always felt understood by him. Though rich in
wisdom, he lived in the Flats, the section of town where most of the poor lived,
and his patrol leader did odd jobs to help support his family.
To Frank’s disappointment, his friend was not at home.

As Frank hiked down the street toward home, he caught glimpses of
trees and decorations in many of the small houses. Then, through one
front window, he glimpsed a shabby room with limp stockings hanging
over an empty fireplace. A woman was seated nearby … weeping.

The stockings reminded him of the way he and his brother had always
hung theirs side by side. The next morning, they would be bursting with
presents. A sudden thought struck Frank — he had not done his “good
deed” for the day. Before the impulse passed, he knocked on the door.

“Yes? the sad voice of the woman asked. “May I come in?” asked Frank.
“You are very welcome,” she said, seeing his sled full of gifts, and
assuming he was making a collection, “but I have no food or gifts for
you. I have nothing for my own children.”

“That’s not why I am here,” Frank replied. “Please choose whatever
presents you would like for your children from the sled.” “Why, God
bless you!” the amazed woman answered gratefully.

She selected some candies, a game, the toy airplane and a puzzle.
When she took the Scout flashlight, Frank almost cried out. Finally,
the stockings were full.

“Won’t you tell me your name?” she asked, as Frank was leaving.
“Just call me the Christmas Scout,” he replied.

The visit left Frank touched, and with an unexpected flicker of joy in
his heart. He understood that his sorrow was not the only sorrow in the
world. Before he left the Flats, he had given away the remainder of his
gifts. The plaid jacket had gone to a shivering boy.

Now Frank trudged homeward, cold and uneasy. How could he explain to
his parents that he had given his presents away?

“Where are your presents, son?” asked his father as Frank entered the
house. Frank answered, “I gave them away.” “The airplane from Aunt Susan?

Your coat from Grandma? Your flashlight? We thought you were happy with your gifts.”

“I was very happy”, the boy answered quietly.

“But Frank, how could you be so impulsive?” his mother asked. “How
will we explain to the relatives who spent so much time and gave so much
love shopping for you?” His father was firm. “You made your choice,
Frank. We cannot afford any more presents.”

With his brother gone, and his family disappointed in him, Frank
suddenly felt dreadfully alone. He had not expected a reward for his
generosity, for he knew that a good deed always should be its own
reward. It would be tarnished otherwise. So he did not want his gifts back;
however he wondered if he would ever again truly recapture joy in his life. He
thought he had this evening, but it had been fleeting. Frank thought of
his brother, and sobbed himself to sleep.

The next morning, he came downstairs to find his parents listening to
Christmas music on the radio. Then the announcer spoke:
“Merry Christmas, everybody! The nicest Christmas story we have this
morning comes from the Flats. A crippled boy down there has a new sled
this morning, another youngster has a fine plaid jacket, and several
families report that their children were made happy last night by gifts
from a teenage boy who simply called himself the Christmas Scout. No
one could identify him, but the children of the Flats claim that the
Christmas Scout was a personal representative of old Santa Claus himself.”

Frank felt his father’s arms go around his shoulders, and he saw his
mother smiling through her tears. “Why didn’t you tell us? We didn’t
understand. We are so proud of you, son.”

The carols came over the air again filling the room with music
“…Praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on Earth.”

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