THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MY AUCTION

THIS AUCTION IS FOR

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

ORDER OF THE ARROW SASH

ONE OF THE HIGHEST RANKS IN SCOUTING

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the honor society of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), composed of Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives as elected by their peers. The society was created by E. Urner Goodman, with the assistance of Carroll A. Edson, in 1915 as a means of reinforcing the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.

The Order of the Arrow was one of many camp honor societies that existed at local Scout camps across the country.  As the years went on and more camps adopted the Order of the Arrow’s program, it gained prominence and became part of the national Boy Scout program in 1934.  By 1948, the OA, recognized as the BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the Boy Scouts of America.

There are three levels of membership in the Order of the Arrow: Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil Honor. After undertaking the Ordeal, one has attained Ordeal membership. Brotherhood membership is attained after 6 months of service to the lodge. It consists of sealing one’s membership by learning the customs and traditions of the Order of the Arrow. The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can present its members for service to the lodge and council.

Members of the ORDER OF THE ARROW are referred to as Arrowmen and their main duty is to serve their unit. They wear red and white sashes and a patch on the right pocket flap of the Scout uniform to identify their lodge affiliation.

This auction is for a genuine Boy Scouts of America ORDER OF THE ARROW uniform award sash. This sash is the first step into the ranks of Boy Scout's honor society, the ORDEAL SASH.

HOW DOES SOMEONE BECOME AN ORDEAL MEMBER? Youth candidates are elected by their peers; they must be at least First Class in rank and have experienced 15 nights of Boy Scout camping while registered with a troop or team within the two years immediately prior to the election.

These are vintage sashes dating back to pre-WW-II to the 1960's. During that time the BSA altered the length of the issue OA sashes that were distributed through its system. Short, youth sashes varied between 52" and 58". The longer, adult OA sashes varied between 64" to 72". The sashes offered here are within those measurements.

Condition: These sashes range between 50 and 80 years old. They were worn by young boys and men, usually at formal occasions and parades. But, boys will be boys. I've inspected each and every sash available here. They range in condition from near new, no apparent blemishes to very minor fraying and/or discoloration, acceptable for use. You might consider them as "everyday wear" sashes. Most OA member usually have two sashes, one for ceremonies, one for meetings and lesser events.

This collection belonged to a life-long Scouter who passed away in 2000. He earned his Eagle award about the age of 17, which would make it around 1959 (ish). He spent his life devoted to Scouting serving as Scoutmaster and at Boy Scout summer camps for over 15 years in positions from counselor to eventually camp director.

He was a ten year member and Vice President of the local Volunteer Fire Co., ten year member of the area Hazardous Materials Response Team and the town Tax Payer's Association and was an Eagle Scout with Gold & Silver Palms, one of the highest ranks in Scouting.

A bronze palm represents five additional merit badges, a gold palm 10, and a silver palm 15. 1 gold palm and 1 silver palm = 46 total merit badges (21 required + 25 additional)

I cannot divulge his identity because I don't have the family's permission, nor sufficient background information on him.

Now..if YOU have any other information or data on this piece and would like to share it, I'd be more than willing to pass it on to any possible NEW OWNER. Please feel free to contact me.

That's about all I can tell you about this UNIQUE SCOUTING collectible.

If you collect ORDER OF THE ARROW, VINTAGE SASHES,

or just want a good ORDER OF THE ARROW ORDEAL AWARD SASH for YOURSELF...

You could add this unique piece to your collection.

READ the description/policies, STUDY the pictures, ASK questions!!

 All you have to do is...BID!!

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