Has everyone had a good time tonight?? Excellent! I did too.
Let’s give another round of applause to our special guests, our friends at the Bird in the Hand conservancy, and our Webelos Den who worked so hard to put this together.
Now… raise your hand… Who do you think is the best looking character in Harry Potter?? (nope… nope… it’s Hagrid, of course!!)
Who do you think is the bravest character in Harry Potter?
Who do you think is the smartest character in Harry Potter? Probably Hermione
Who do you think is the wisest?
We started the night with some wise words from Harry’s godfather, who told him, “But know this; the ones that love us, never really leave us.” Now, I want to share with you some words from the wisest of all, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. These words have come to mind quite a bit in the past few weeks.
In the first book, Dumbledore says, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." In book three, he says, ”Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." Why do you think I have been thinking about these quotes?
When I first heard about Ms. Michaud’s passing, I wondered if we should postpone this event. I thought about not doing the Bear Carnival before Pinewood derby. Then I thought about what Ms. Michaud would say if I did this… She would have some words for me, I think. Cub Scouting was important to her… and it is important to her family. She believed very strongly in our program and what Pack 1683 does. Professor Dumbledore says, “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” Like the rest of the adults in this room, Ms. Michaud believed that Scouting is important to prepare young people to be the best person they can be by instilling in you the Scout Oath and Law. Ms. Michaud would want you Scouts to continue with all the exciting and valuable things we have planned.
Does that mean that we cannot stop and grieve? Absolutely not.
Does that mean its not okay to be sad? Heck no!
It is okay to miss her…. Its okay to be sad… its okay to cry… but I want you to remember something that Dumbledore said to Harry when he was missing his parents, “You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself plainly when you have need of him.” Ms. Michaud is here with us today because she loves us and we love her. And, “to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” She will continue Scouting with you for the rest of your lives. When you earn your Bear, she will be there. When you earn your Arrow of Light… she will be there. And when you stand in front of your friends and family and are presented with your Eagle medal, she will be beaming with pride.
So, from here, we move on to the next adventure, and we have many adventures ahead of us. As does Ms. Michaud… “After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure!”
Now please stand and make the Scout Sign as we close out this celebration, I pray that our dearly missed Bear Den Leader and the Great Cubmaster of all Scouts remain in our hearts until we meet again, and beyond. Good night Scouts.
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