Montgomery Boy Scout Troop 850 joins the Army

   "They put a chain across the Hudson River?"
   "Yep, they thought they could trap the British warships, and then bombard them with cannons from the cliffs here at West Point."
   "Did it work?"
   "They never got a chance to find out, because the British never sailed this far up the river," explained Cadet Private James White to a group of curious Boy Scouts from Montgomery’s Troop 850.
   Being a first-year cadet, Mr. White took great pride in leading the boys around his new academic home, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. But he felt at ease conducting a tour for this particular group of visitors, because he had previously acted as their Senior Patrol Leader in Montgomery when he was a Boy Scout.
   Troop 850 was in town for Scout Day at West Point, where hundreds of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts were invited to get a feel for "duty, honor, country …" inside the stone walls of the U.S. Military Academy.
   After driving up to one of the academy’s recreation areas to pitch their tents for the weekend, the boys reported to the campus the following morning for a day full of activities, starting with a cadet-led tour of the grounds.
   Looking down on the Hudson, it was easy to see why the British considered a voyage upstream tantamount to suicide as long as the Continentals commanded the high ground, several hundred feet above the water.
   After learning about some of the many great American commanders and the battles they waged to preserve freedom in this country, and around the world, the boys were captivated by the Corps of Cadets Parade in which hundreds of cadets marched in review before thousands of visitors and dignitaries on the bright green grass of the perfectly manicured parade field.
   On this beautifully sunny October day, the corps stepped with confident precision to the beat of the Army marching band. A formation of about a dozen separate brigades, sporting the traditional plume-topped hats and gray uniforms, passed in front of the grandstands, rifles on their shoulders, wheeled around at the edge of the field and exited out the back toward their barracks.
   The now-empty parade field was soon filled from a different direction — from above. The Army Black Knights parachute team, composed of West Point cadets, could be seen exiting their helicopter, flying 4,500 feet overhead. After several seconds of free-fall, their highly maneuverable gold and black parachutes snapped open, and each diver then demonstrated a series of turns and spins before expertly touching down in the exact middle of their landing target.
   The early afternoon for Troop 850 was devoted to absorbing more history at the Military Museum at West Point, " … considered to be the oldest and largest diversified public collection of miltaria in the Western Hemisphere." An extensive display of Army uniforms and weapons, from sabers to tanks, intrigued the boys, especially after learning that boys their age routinely filled the ranks of our early army in many battles.
   There was one more battle to worry about, though — the one at Michie Stadium, where the Army football team was planning to clip the wings of the visiting Rice Owls. After a colorful opening ceremony of more marching and skydiving cadets, the Black Knights received the kickoff and "marched" down the field for the game’s first touchdown.
   Unfortunately, the gathering rain clouds were fitting, and victory was elusive, as Rice pummeled Army 48-14. By the fourth quarter, the drizzle had turned into a steady rain and Troop 850 was glad to beat a retreat to the cadet mess hall where they were expected for dinner.
   Capable of feeding the entire 4000–plus cadet corps at one sitting, this historic gothic-style hall, with its 50-foot high arched ceiling and wooden-paneled walls, was a unique treat for the boys, as they enjoyed a fine meal, family style, at three long tables.
   Meanwhile, the cadets quietly trickled into the voluminous room, their disappointment obvious after the dismal performance of their football team. But their spirits were lifted somewhat as those sitting near the Scouts were soon busy answering question after question about life at West Point. Many of these cadets had been Boy Scouts in their hometowns and they enthusiastically volunteered colorful stories to entertain their young visitors.
   After dessert, the boys excused themselves and returned to their campsite, where they were able to enjoy an evening around the campfire, as the rain had temporarily abated. It was to return in the morning, though, as they woke up to a sprinkle, which soon turned into a soaking rain. Troop 850 hurriedly broke camp, loaded their cars with their gear and headed back to Montgomery, thoroughly wet, but none the worse for wear.
   Chartered by Princeton Elks Lodge No. 2129, Troop 850 meets at their lodge on Route 518 most Monday nights at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Rick Pottorf, [email protected].
— Submitted by Bruce Windom,
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 850