Scouting, Volume 40, Number 7, September 1952 Page: 19
40 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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PROUDLY
by JACK RHEA
Asst. Director, Volunteer Training Service
A screech of tires on the hard pavement —
a scream from a bystander as she sees a man
struck down by a speeding automobile — and then
the inevitable crowd that always seems to appear
at an accident, pressing closer and closer, trying to
see the injured. The crowd then gives way to three
lads who appear and immediately send for help,
give first aid to the injured, and move the crowd
back. One might wonder why they are allowed to
take charge? The answer is, they are Boy Scouts and
the crowd knows it because they are in uniform.
In over forty years of service to others the Boy
Scout Uniform has become well-known and greatly
respected.
Occasionally a Scoutmaster asks "When should
a Scout wear his uniform." The answer is at Pa-
trol and Troop meetings, hikes and camps, Courts
of Honor, service assignments. To sum it up quickly
— ANYTIME — he is appearing as a Boy Scout.
The uniform is designed not only to look good
at meetings and ceremonies but also to take the
rough wear of the hike and camp. Manufactured
from a heavy harness twill, it is just .about the
most rugged type that can be used in a textile
fabric. Correctly cared for it will give years of
active wear.
Here are a few tips on the care of the uniform:
1. Wash it often. A garment that is allowed to
get too dirty takes much more abuse when washed
than when it is slightly soiled. The excess dirt acts
as an abrasive and will break down the fabric.
2. Wash it in fairly hot water using a good soap
or detergent. Allowing the uniform to become ex-
cessively dirty or using a hard soap might cause
extreme abrasion that will take more out of one
spot than another causing a mottled effect.
3. Rinse it. well. Excess soap left from washing
will turn white when touched by a hot iron, and
will cause spots that may never come out.
4. Press while damp. This allows you to pull the
garment back into its proper shape as you press it.
If you want to get away from a shine on the uni-
form, press it under a damp cloth.
We have already covered the subject when to
wear the uniform now let's discuss how to wear it.
A. The shoes should be tan in color and while
they may be everyday school shoes, a shine helps
in two ways — makes the uniform look better and
is good for the shoes.
B. Socks should be tan or brown. "Loud" colored
socks can ruin the looks of a nice uniform.
C. The trousers are pressed with a crease down
the leg front — no cuffs. If the trouser legs are too
long take up the hem — by the way, they come
with a nice wide hem so they can be let down as
the Scout grows up. Leggings add a smart touch and
give extra protection in brush or rocks.
D. The shirt should be pressed with creases down
the sleeves but none in front or back. When the
long-sleeved shirt is worn with a neckerchief, the
collar should be turned under making a V-neck.
E. The neckerchief looks much neater if it is
rolled down until there is only a small triangle
formed, with the insignia facing in the right direc-
tion. This keeps the neckerchief from bunching up
in the back of the neck. The knot in the ends is
an overhand.
F. Topped with the hat two fingers above the
right eye, the uniform becomes a real mark of
distinction.
Oh yes — make certain that all the insignia worn
on the uniform is supposed to be there and is cor-
rectly placed. Regular inspections at Troop meet-
ing help control this.
So — to sum it all up.
Wear, wash, and inspect it often to wear it proudly.
BOY SCOUT SECTION
SEPTEMBER, 1952
19
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 40, Number 7, September 1952, periodical, September 1952; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth329208/m1/21/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.