Perseverance head west young man

CLOSING CEREMONIES

• 
  Each Cub has a sign with the words on back in LARGE print and a picture he drew on the front.
  
• 
  Have the Cubs arrange themselves in a horseshoe around a campfire; lights are low.
  
• 
  Each Cub has a candle.
  
• 
  Cub 1 lights his candle from the Spirit Candle.
  

1. 
   May you brand your biggest calf crop. May your range. grass never fail. (Cub 1 passes flame to Cub 2 candle.)
   
2. 
   May your waterholes stay open. May you ride an easy trail. (Cub 2 passes flame to Cub 3 candle.)
   
3. 
   May you never reach for leather, Nor your saddle horse go lame. (Cub 3 passes flame to Cub 4 candle.)
   
4. 
   May you dab your loop on critters, With your old unerring aim. (Cub 4 passes flame to Cub 5 candle.)
   
5. 
   May your stack of chips grow taller. May your shootin’ eye stay true. (Cub 5 passes flame to Cub 6 candle.)
   
6. 
   May good luck plum’ snow you under, Is my sincere wish to you.
   

Cubmaster can read this poem or the boys in a Den can read it, with each boy reading a phrase.

1. 
   The cowboys blazed a trail across the golden prairie.
   They never gave up, even when the going got tough and a little scary.
   
2. 
   They forged ahead day after day.
   From dawn to sunset they made their way.
   
3. 
   They defeated great hurdles and fought for their land,
   And even against great odds they made their stand.
   
4. 
   If it hadn’t been for those cowboys of long ago,
   We might not have the life we’ve come to know.
   
5. 
   So when the going gets tough and you think you’re done in.
   Pick yourself up and go at it again.
   
6. 
   The Scout and the Cowboy from the wild wooly West
   Are both dedicated to doing their best.
   
7. 
   We hope you enjoyed tonight’s theme too
   And now we’d like to say, “Cheerio!”
   

1. 
   S is for safety Learn and follow the rules.
   
2. 
   A is for armor. Wear proper safety gear.
   
3. 
   F is for friends. Work with a buddy
   
4. 
   E is for eagerness. Have a good attitude.
   
5. 
   T is for trying. Keep trying; don't give up.
   
6. 
   Y is for yes. Commit to safe practices and persevere.
   

Read a Cowboy poem and then end by singing Happy Trails. (See Songs for words) A good source for Cowboy Poems is the Rod Nichols’s Cowboy Poetry website - http://www.cowboypoetry.com/rn.htm

It’s true you had no phones, no gasoline,

But there’s one thing you didn’t have that we could do without.

But one thing does amaze us.

Oh Pioneers! Oh Pioneers!

I have here a One Dollar Bill – and there are some interesting lessons in perseverance to be learned from this money.

First, the image of George Washington reminds us that he persevered in spite of terrible odds, overwhelming enemy forces, freezing weather and a lack of even the most basic needs as he led his men in the struggle for freedom.

Now, if you turn the bill over, you will see two circles –the two sides of the Great Seal of the United States. Before the adjournment of the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776, a committee of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson was appointed to develop a seal for the United States. It took six years, the work of two additional committees and a total of 14 men before a final version of the Great Seal was approved – another example of perseverance.

The reverse side of the seal has a pyramid with one side lighted and one side dark. Exploration of the West had not yet begun, so we were in the “dark” about much of our land. The pyramid is also Un-capped, representing the unfinished state of our country. Congress was told that this represented “Strength and Duration” – in other words, Perseverance.

The front of the Great Shield shows an eagle with a shield. Notice the shield is not supported – denoting that the United States of America ought to rely on its own virtue as it perseveres.

The history of our country is filled with examples of patriots who have relied on their own virtue and perseverance in spite of many challenges – Our flag is the symbol of those patriots and the many who serve our country.

We honor our flag on June 14^th every year – and tonight, we ask you to stand as we honor our flag once more. (Retrieval of flag by color guard)