BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOUNDER WILLIAM D. BOYCE HONORED AT NEW NATIONAL MONUMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Former President Bush Dedicates the Extra Mile Points of Light Volunteer Pathway
to Highlight Role of Service Movement in American Life
A new national monument will be unveiled on October 14 in Washington, D.C.,
with Boy Scouts of America founder William D. Boyce among the Americans whose
life work it immortalizes in bronze and granite. The monument and its Extra
Mile Points of Light Volunteer Pathway tell the stories of great Americans who,
through their caring and personal sacrifice, built their dreams into great
movements that have created enduring change in America.
Boyce is one of only 20 honorees whose commemorative medallions will be
unveiled in a ceremony led by former President George H. W. Bush, political
commentator Cokie Roberts, and District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams.
Boyce will be recognized for the role he played in founding the Boy Scouts
of America and making it possible for millions of young Americans to benefit
from its values-based educational programs for more than 95 years.
"We are humbled that the Boy Scouts of America is being honored through
inclusion in such a profound national monument," said Willie Iles, director
of strategic initiatives for the Boy Scouts. "From its very inception,
Scouting has taught our nation's youth about the power of volunteerism. As
the nation's leading youth service organization, we honor our founder's
vision of Scouting through our daily Good Turns toward society."
Over the past 95 years, the nearly 110 million members of Scouting have
provided countless hours of service. The more than 1.7 million Eagle Scouts
alone have provided an estimated 36 million hours of service through their
Eagle projects. The BSA's Good Turn for America initiative looks ahead to
meet the changing needs of youth for the next century by focusing on the
power of volunteerism through the three vital community issues of food,
shelter, and health. Good Turn for America aims to make a substantial
positive impact on the nation by providing millions of volunteer hours
to benefit those in need.
"We are thrilled to see this monument become a reality and to recognize
the contributions of such heroic Americans as William D. Boyce," said Robert
Goodwin, president and chief executive officer of the Points of Light
Foundation. "His legacy epitomizes the spirit of service in America and
provides an inspiring example of how we all have the ability to go the
extra mile for our fellow citizens."
The monument is a series of bronze markers laid into the sidewalks in an
area adjacent to the White House. Each marker will bear the likeness of an
honoree, a description of his or her achievement, and a quote. Together, the
markers form a one-mile walking path through an area bounded by Pennsylvania
Avenue, 15th Street, G Street, and 11th Street, NW.
The Extra Mile is an initiative of the Points of Light Foundation. The
monument required both congressional and District of Columbia approvals and
is made possible thanks to major support provided by the KPMG Foundation.
Other Extra Mile honorees include Martin Luther King Jr., Eunice Kennedy
Shriver, Clara Barton, Cesar Chavez, and Frederick Douglass, as well as
founders of organizations like Goodwill Industries, Volunteers of America,
and Rotary International. For more information on the monument, visit
www.extramile.us. For more background on the Points of Light
Foundation, visit www.pointsoflight.org.
Serving over 4.8 million young people between 7 and 20 years of age with
more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the
Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character
development and values-based leadership training.
###
|