Whereas, W. D. Boyce of Chicago incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910, inspired by Robert Baden-Powell's Scout Movement in England; and

Whereas, under the leadership of Daniel Beard, Ernest Thompson Seton, and James West, the Boy Scouts of America expanded rapidly, absorbing similar organizations, and 17-year-old Arthur Rose Eldred of New York became the first Eagle Scout in 1912; and

Whereas, the Boy Scouts played an important role on the home front during the first and second world wars, collecting scrap metal, carrying messages, and selling war bonds; and

Whereas, over the years, the Boy Scouts expanded to include older and younger boys under the Cub Scouts, the Tiger Cub Scouts, the Explorers, and the Venturers; and

Whereas, the example of the Boy Scouts of America inspired Juliette Gordon Low of Savannah, Georgia, to establish the Girl Scouts of the United States of America in 1912; and

Whereas, in 2009, the Boy Scouts of America named its two millionth Eagle Scout, Anthony Thomas of Lakeville, Minnesota; and

Whereas, millions of boys over the past century have strived to uphold the Scout Oath: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight"; and

Whereas, the Scout Law defines Scouts as “trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent"; and

Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America is celebrating its centennial on February 8, 2010; now, therefore, be it