BSA Grand Centennial Parade will help kick off the 2010 jamboree

1937_jamboree_parade_01

This Year of Celebration just keeps getting better.

The National Council and National Capital Area Council have announced
plans for the BSA Grand Centennial Parade. It will march in Washington, D.C., on
July 25—one day before the 2010 National Scout Jamboree begins at nearby Fort
A.P. Hill, Va.

Organizers say the parade will feature five floats, each
depicting one of the core principles of Scouting (leadership, achievement,
service, character, and the outdoors), moving down Constitution Avenue between
7th and 17th streets. You'll also see helium balloons, antique cars, and Scout marching bands.

The nation’s capital usually only stages four parades each
year: one each for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day, and a fourth
during the Cherry Blossom Festival. But in honor of the BSA’s Centennial, the
District of Columbia has authorized a fifth. It will be the first big BSA parade in Washington, D.C., since the one in 1937, picture above.

What’s the scoop? Read on.

  • The parade will have space for a contingent from every local
    council. Each council’s marching unit should include 21 participants—20 marchers
    and one flag bearer. The ideal breakdown of marchers would be 18 youths and two
    adults.
  • These boys could be Scouts from a jamboree troop or a
    special contingent of Scouts organized just for the parade.
  • Each participant—youth and adult—will receive a Centennial
    Celebration packet to help commemorate their participation.

To get started, contact your council’s Scout executive to
find out who is organizing your council’s contingent. Applications are only
accepted through local councils.

Councils must submit their marching unit by April 16, so
there’s no time to waste in expressing your interest to your council.

For more details, check out the event’s Web site.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.