This circa-1960 photo shows members of Spotswood’s Cub Scout Pack 35 with den leader Alice Eckman. Former pack member Bruce Eckman, second row far right, will be at the Feb. 27 meeting, along with other past members, to discuss what it was like to be a Cub Scout in years past and how it has affected their lives. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL WASSERMAN SPOTSWOOD — Past members of the Boy Scouts of America will share stories of what being a Scout has meant to them with current Scouts later this month.
“We are going to try to do some historical talks on what it was like to be a Cub Scout. One of the guys coming out was a Scout in the 1960s and a few more from the 1970s,” said Paul Wasserman, Spotswood Cub Scout Pack 35 Committee chairman.
“They will be talking about what it was like to be a Scout and how it affected their life. The whole thing will be probably about 20 minutes or so. Keeping the attention of 7- and 8-year-olds is difficult.”
The event will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at Immaculate Conception School, 23 Manalapan Road.
Wasserman said this is the first time he has had former Pack 35 Scouts share their experiences with current Scouts.
“One of our leaders had seen in the borough’s history book a picture of some Cub Scouts from the early 1960s,” he said. “One of the guys in the picture is someone I happened to know, and I asked him, ‘Hey, would you want to come in and talk to us?’ He said ‘yes,’ and then he got a couple of other guys he knows.
“It will be interesting to hear their perspectives.”
Wasserman said he was a Scout some years ago, and among the most important benefits of being a Scout are the friendships formed among the youths and their families.
“I was a Scout about 45 years ago. My mother was a den mother, and kids in my neighborhood were involved in the program. I remember we all felt good about wearing the uniform. We compared it to being in the police or an army uniform when I was kid,” he said.
“One of the most important things I see as an adult involved in Scouts is the relationship formed between boys and the families of those boys.
“I had 10 boys in my den, and they are all still very good friends. It brings groups of families together, and I see that happening all the time now. It brings people together. I love that about it.”