Inspiration!

Up an iron alley staircase or up the steep wooden and narrow front stairs at the old American Legion Hall in Palouse, America is an amazing Lions Clubhouse. 

On one wall, is a 48 star American flag that once belonged to the American Legion Post who previously inhabited these digs. The current inhabitants of the Legion Hall. the Palouse Lions Club, have left other Legion mementos on the walls including photos of past Local Commanders. It is, after all, a history of public service in their town which is a history that the Lions now continue.

The room is large, welcoming, has a bar, a kitchen, a restroom and a huge storage room for a Cub Scout Pack 417 and a Boy Scout Troop 455 which the Palouse Lions sponsor. 

Three pairs of father-son Lions who were in attendance at the meeting received Serving Generations pins. After the meeting two other Lions pointed out legacy items in the Hall that were from their now passed on fathers.

After showing me the Scout storage which is at once a museum and a functioning new Scout gear room, Lion Scoutmaster Jay Iverson pointed out Scout items on display in the main hall. 

Just behind the American and Boy Scout flag next to a framed poster of the Palouse Days Auto Show hung a unique, wonderfully crafted clothes pin Boy Scout rank Award display which fascinated me.

From the top each cross member shows the ranks each Scout strives to attain: Eagle, Life, Star, First Class, Second Class and Scout.

When they pledge allegiance to the flag the current Boy Scouts in Troop 455 cannot help but see their own progression toward Eagle Scout. And then when they see the Eagle Rank they see the clothespins that represent all the young men and grownups in the community who have attained their Eagles.


What an aspiration for them!


What an inspiration for us all!

Connecting the dots in my mind and looking out at the Lions in the room who were lingering yet departing from the meeting, I asked the obvious question, "How many of your members were Eagles in this troop?" Lion Scoutmaster Jay smiled and started pointing them out...

You Guys are Great!