Epilog

When I was inducted into the Order of the Arrow thirteen years ago, I was promised "a long and toilsome journey." I had no idea of what was to come. For me, the Order of the Arrow started as a new blueprint for a lasting brotherhood of cheerful service. For years it was a pattern for all aspects of my life. I met and worked beside some of my closest friends that I have ever had. I spent over 500 hours a year for six years working on Lodge and Summer Camp programs, projects, and activities. I was blessed to work with and become friends with some of the best Scouting had to offer, National Chiefs, Region Chiefs, Section Chiefs, and many Lodge Chiefs that I will never forget. The years have also blessed me with hundreds and hundreds of other Arrowmen that have touched my life. A few friends have faithfully stood beside my son and I during these trying years. They have been on this journey as well.

I do not wear the Vigil sash or Order of the Arrow flap any more. The Turtles promised me that they would strip me of Vigil and they succeeded. They reduced the Vigil honor to a token of loyalty to the Turtles and I will not submit to them. I have watched too many Turtles be "rewarded" with the Vigil honor and too many much more deserving non-Turtles be rejected for it to have any meaning now.

A few summers ago, the Turtles were back on Summer Camp staff like nothing had happened. New council executives have been hired at Occoneechee that have never heard of the Turtles and the council program was headed by a long time Turtle. Occoneechee Council recently sent me a Summer Camp packet for Camp Durant in 2005. The two Chapter Advisors that knew ahead of the hazing and child abuse at Conclave in 2000 and refused to stop it or even acknowledge later that it was wrong, are now the Summer Camp Director and Program Director for my Council Summer Camp program. Unbelievable! Who is watching out for the youth? How many more times will adults sleep knowing that youth are being abused?

The Lodge Adviser once told me that the problem was not the Turtles. The real problem was that I refused to just accept them as a necessary evil and leave them alone. With all the good they were doing for Scouting, they needed a pass and a second chance and a third chance. Scouting can not afford to be rid of the Turtles.

I refuse to accept that attitude. Scouting can not afford Turtles. We were promised in the Scout Sign that "There is no place for Turtles in Occoneechee Council or Occoneechee Lodge in the Present and in the Future!"  I have waited for over seven years for the Turtles to be cleaned out of Scouting and it is obvious that there are too many "good men" doing nothing to triumph over the evil left in the path of the Turtles.

Carl McLawhorn

7/28/2005