The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson -
- Ralph Waldo Emerson -
Below are some of the email responses from Eagle Scout families we have helped or inspired in the design of their very own Ballad tribute for their Eagle Scouts.
Many of these Eagle Scouts are featured on our "Eagle Honor Roll" page.
Many of these Eagle Scouts are featured on our "Eagle Honor Roll" page.
From: Paul O'Brien
To: [email protected]
Date: 6/10/2014
Dear Paul,
On behalf of BSA Troop 199 in Fairfield Connecticut, we would like to express our deep appreciation for allowing us to use the Eagle Scout Ballad PowerPoint presentation for our Eagle Court of Honor ceremony. We received so many compliments on the presentation. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience!
As you requested, we "paid it forward" with a $100.00 donation to the St Paul's Food Pantry in Collingswood, New Jersey. We wish you continued success in your mission with Scoutworks and all the worthwhile activities you peruse with scouting.
Thank you again for making our Eagle Court of Honor unforgettable!
Paul O'Brien
Assistant Scout Master
Troop 199
Fairfield Connecticut
To: [email protected]
Date: 6/10/2014
Dear Paul,
On behalf of BSA Troop 199 in Fairfield Connecticut, we would like to express our deep appreciation for allowing us to use the Eagle Scout Ballad PowerPoint presentation for our Eagle Court of Honor ceremony. We received so many compliments on the presentation. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience!
As you requested, we "paid it forward" with a $100.00 donation to the St Paul's Food Pantry in Collingswood, New Jersey. We wish you continued success in your mission with Scoutworks and all the worthwhile activities you peruse with scouting.
Thank you again for making our Eagle Court of Honor unforgettable!
Paul O'Brien
Assistant Scout Master
Troop 199
Fairfield Connecticut
From: Mark Bedsaul
To: [email protected]
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 7:31 PM
Dear Paul
I can't thank you enough for all your help with Jacob's Ballad of an Eagle Scout. It was a big hit at the COH. I received many compliments on the video and am passing your website on to others who requested information. I used it as you suggested, at the end of the ceremony and before the benediction, retiring of the Colors. The placement was just right. One of the representatives made a special point of coming up to me afterward and said this was one of the most touching ceremonies she had attended. Your Ballad made it special.
I am grateful to have the video as a reminder of his special day.
Thank you
Valerie Bedsaul
To: [email protected]
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 7:31 PM
Dear Paul
I can't thank you enough for all your help with Jacob's Ballad of an Eagle Scout. It was a big hit at the COH. I received many compliments on the video and am passing your website on to others who requested information. I used it as you suggested, at the end of the ceremony and before the benediction, retiring of the Colors. The placement was just right. One of the representatives made a special point of coming up to me afterward and said this was one of the most touching ceremonies she had attended. Your Ballad made it special.
I am grateful to have the video as a reminder of his special day.
Thank you
Valerie Bedsaul
From: Malone Rosemond
To: [email protected]
Date: October 1, 2012
Paul,
We had a ball with Jake’s Eagle Court of Honor, and the shining moment for all came with the showing of the Ballad of the Eagle Scout. I kept it a surprise from all but the A/V guy, and it came right after the Eagle medal/pin/certificate and Troop awards. Since I had seen it a hundred times, I watched the audience for their responses to the presentation and they were glued to the screen, with many wiping tear or two, including Jake.
We had one of our assistant scoutmasters die tragically in a small plane crash 2 weeks before the COH, so I added his picture as a memorial at the end of the Eagle Honor Roll with the drum roll playing in the background. It really added a nice touch. Many Scout dads and former asst. Scoutmasters came up to me later and said that the Ballad had raised the bar for all future Troop Eagle COHs and I suspect you will getting a few more requests.
Thanks again Paul. Your creativity and PowerPoint genius really added a powerful and lasting impression for us, and hopefully added a little incentive for some of our scouts to really push for the Eagle and to be “one of the few”. You made a difference.
Best Regards,
Malone Rosemond
To: [email protected]
Date: October 1, 2012
Paul,
We had a ball with Jake’s Eagle Court of Honor, and the shining moment for all came with the showing of the Ballad of the Eagle Scout. I kept it a surprise from all but the A/V guy, and it came right after the Eagle medal/pin/certificate and Troop awards. Since I had seen it a hundred times, I watched the audience for their responses to the presentation and they were glued to the screen, with many wiping tear or two, including Jake.
We had one of our assistant scoutmasters die tragically in a small plane crash 2 weeks before the COH, so I added his picture as a memorial at the end of the Eagle Honor Roll with the drum roll playing in the background. It really added a nice touch. Many Scout dads and former asst. Scoutmasters came up to me later and said that the Ballad had raised the bar for all future Troop Eagle COHs and I suspect you will getting a few more requests.
Thanks again Paul. Your creativity and PowerPoint genius really added a powerful and lasting impression for us, and hopefully added a little incentive for some of our scouts to really push for the Eagle and to be “one of the few”. You made a difference.
Best Regards,
Malone Rosemond
From: 3bullsfans
To: [email protected]
Date: August 27, 2012
Hi Paul,
Just thought I would pass on to you our Eagle COH was this past weekend. It was a huge success. We ran the ppt as the start to the ceremony and a way to get everyone in their seats and quiet. It was such a success we had parents come up and tell us they were tearing up from watching it. We also had some SM's from other troops present and they all came up to me and asked where I got the ppt.. I would expect some more business coming your way. They asked about cost and I mentioned your charity as a way to pay back and they thought that was fantastic.
Just wanted to let you know that it went well, we are drained from all the excitement and preparations leading up to the ceremony but now just two sets of very proud parents. Thanks again for all you did.
Barry Lenz
To: [email protected]
Date: August 27, 2012
Hi Paul,
Just thought I would pass on to you our Eagle COH was this past weekend. It was a huge success. We ran the ppt as the start to the ceremony and a way to get everyone in their seats and quiet. It was such a success we had parents come up and tell us they were tearing up from watching it. We also had some SM's from other troops present and they all came up to me and asked where I got the ppt.. I would expect some more business coming your way. They asked about cost and I mentioned your charity as a way to pay back and they thought that was fantastic.
Just wanted to let you know that it went well, we are drained from all the excitement and preparations leading up to the ceremony but now just two sets of very proud parents. Thanks again for all you did.
Barry Lenz
From: Diana Jaques
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 7:21 PM
Subject: Outstanding work
I came across your presentation this past Thursday. Our son’s Eagle COH was Sunday. Since I have a good knowledge of PowerPoint and had no time to spare and really wanted this presentation as a surprise for my son and his father, I created my own using your ppt as a model. I bought the music through Amazon and worked through the night to meet the deadline of getting everything to the church to meet their deadline. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Thank you so much for the inspiration and the creativity. The Scouts in our troop have attended many COH presentations but all agreed ours was one of the best due to your creative genius. Now all the mothers want this presentation at their son’s COH. I am directing them to your website. They will have more than one day to produce theirs! I will be making a donation to Saint Paul’s Food Pantry. As it turns out, my son’s Eagle project was to create a 40’ garden bed for a local Food Pantry in our neighborhood. This increased their output by 20%. Here are the scouts honored on Sunday.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Diana Jaques
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 7:21 PM
Subject: Outstanding work
I came across your presentation this past Thursday. Our son’s Eagle COH was Sunday. Since I have a good knowledge of PowerPoint and had no time to spare and really wanted this presentation as a surprise for my son and his father, I created my own using your ppt as a model. I bought the music through Amazon and worked through the night to meet the deadline of getting everything to the church to meet their deadline. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Thank you so much for the inspiration and the creativity. The Scouts in our troop have attended many COH presentations but all agreed ours was one of the best due to your creative genius. Now all the mothers want this presentation at their son’s COH. I am directing them to your website. They will have more than one day to produce theirs! I will be making a donation to Saint Paul’s Food Pantry. As it turns out, my son’s Eagle project was to create a 40’ garden bed for a local Food Pantry in our neighborhood. This increased their output by 20%. Here are the scouts honored on Sunday.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Diana Jaques
FROM: Charles Hauser
TO: [email protected]
Subject: Kevin Hauser's COH in Rochester
Monday, May 7, 2012 7:33 PM
Paul,
Let me try to put this into words. The emotion your presentation evokes goes beyond words. The love you have for your son is obvious and allowed me a way to express my similar feelings toward my son. My wife said. "Wow. Paul is really a nice guy, he really shows the spirit of scouting" I think that says it best. I am surprised your video hasn't gone viral but I suspect since it is very good, people of common values like you & I and will find its way.
The COH was wonderful and would not have been as wonderful without your work. NY State Senator Joe Robach was there and he said "this is exactly what every community needs (scouting) and it goes a long way toward preventing and overcoming problems that others outside the organization face."
What you are doing for each scout that sees your video is something that touches their lives and is memorable.
We are forever grateful,
Chuck & Gail Hauser
TO: [email protected]
Subject: Kevin Hauser's COH in Rochester
Monday, May 7, 2012 7:33 PM
Paul,
Let me try to put this into words. The emotion your presentation evokes goes beyond words. The love you have for your son is obvious and allowed me a way to express my similar feelings toward my son. My wife said. "Wow. Paul is really a nice guy, he really shows the spirit of scouting" I think that says it best. I am surprised your video hasn't gone viral but I suspect since it is very good, people of common values like you & I and will find its way.
The COH was wonderful and would not have been as wonderful without your work. NY State Senator Joe Robach was there and he said "this is exactly what every community needs (scouting) and it goes a long way toward preventing and overcoming problems that others outside the organization face."
What you are doing for each scout that sees your video is something that touches their lives and is memorable.
We are forever grateful,
Chuck & Gail Hauser