The Singing Scoutmaster: Duty to Country

The Scout Oath asks us to do our "duty to country." You might think that means you have to be a soldier or work in government, but your duty to country starts much closer to home.

Being a good citizen means following the rules, respecting others, and doing your part to make your community a better place. When you pick up litter at the park, help a neighbor, or volunteer at a food drive, you're doing your duty to country. You're making the place where you live a little bit better.

Think about all the people who came before us and worked hard so we could have the freedoms we enjoy today-the freedom to go to school, to practice our faith, and to speak our minds. Doing our duty to country means not taking those freedoms for granted. It means respecting the flag, learning about our history, and understanding why those freedoms matter.

Your duty to country also means being informed and involved. As you grow up, that might mean voting, serving on a jury, or simply paying attention to what's happening in your community. For now, it means being a responsible Scout who cares about the world beyond yourself.

Every time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, participate in a flag ceremony, or serve your community, you are living out your duty to country. A country is only as strong as the people in it, and Scouts like you make it stronger every day.