Almost...But Never Was (Part 2)

Al Opstal, former lodge adviser, used to assist and take part in patch design/creation of fellowship patches for Black Eagle Lodge 482. If and when scouts did not come up with a theme or design, Al would seek the guidance of Tom Slavicek. Tom has created several fellowship patches for Black Eagle Lodge. Eventually, Al PCS'd back to the United States and the Fall Fellowship patch design for 2001 went with him. It was one of many patches Tom designed at the request of Al.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



The patch that took its place was rather unpleasant. The multi-purpose patch was used for over 3 different lodge functions. It was designed by Peter Amrphol. The lodge apparently used it as a quick fix and to keep costs down on patches.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



Sadly, after Al's departure Black Eagle really has abandoned keeping a steady theme to fellowship patches. The designs have been from mild to wild with no basis of coherent logic. In 2005, the fellowship showed signs of returning to traditional standards but it did not last. While this change is not necessarily a bad thing...it is different from that of which I remembered.

Stars and Stripes Honors Scouts with Special Edition

The Special Boy Scout Edition 1963 from The Stars And Stripes about Transatlantic Council. Pictured below are a couple snap shots from the special edition. Highlight of the article is Transatlantic Council reaching all time high in membership.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



The council use to have support from top rank generals and what seemed like unlimited military support. Today, the council takes support from anyone that is willing to offer a helping hand.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



I thought some of you might enjoy the picture of Checkpoint Charlie with various Scouters pictured above.

Are You A Flapper?

I was reading some articles from "The Totem" which is the newsletter for Black Eagle Lodge. It is only available now online. It was once taken to a press to be printed and mailed out through a list but those days are sadly gone.

I do not know who wrote this article or where it came from but I always loved it. I will post a couple of paragraphs to shorten the read.

What's A Flapper?

A "Flapper" is someone who has been Tapped Out. Gone through the Ordeal, and then forgotten about his Obligation. Maybe he has attended an OA function or two, but most probably he's never has any other dealings with the OA. Oh, you can be sure that he'll wear his Ordeal sash to all troop Courts of Honor and take it to the summer camp, but he's one of those guys who is "too busy" to join his so called Brothers when off to attend the Rededication Ceremony.

Sure, he always wears his OA pocket flap - that's how he gets his name. He wears the flap and he flaps his lips about the membership in the OA, but his words are hollow. His words are hollow because actions speak louder than words and his words are heard only by the few, while his actions are seen by all. A "Flapper" has "done his time" so when it comes to gathering firewood, cooking, cleaning up, helping young Scouts learn Scoutcraft, and providing leadership by example, you'd better look for someone else. He'll strut around like a peacock with his lodge flap and his OA sash, but he'd never stop to help his fellow Scouts and get his hands dirty.

Have you remembered your Obligation? Or are you a "Flapper"?

Treasures At Coberly's (Black Eagle Lodge Part II)

The amount of treasures that live in Coberly's home seemed almost endless. It is worthy to consider turning all those scouting goods into a personal museum if probably organized and put out on display.

Dan Coberly was generous beyond all belief and parted with a piece of Black Eagle History that I have never seen before. He gave me a Black Eagle Lodge Loincloth. The picture does not do it justice. The loincloths are made from layer and layer of cloth through a method of select cuttings, sewn patches, and various threading. It is truly a work of art. The one Coberly gave me is similar to the one pictured below with a dark purplish background but is far to big for me to scan.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)

Dan was kind enough to provide the history behind these loincloths. "During the 1970's, we ordered a few loin cloths like these from using molas made in Panama CZ, similar to the ones from Chiriqui Lodge in the 1960's. They were made by Kuna/San Blas Indians and came in different designs with chapter and lodge totems." These loin cloths appeared to be originally made for the Ni'na Caw Yu Chapter for Black Eagle Lodge 482.

Truly, a unique piece of history that I plan to treasure.

What Happened to Collectible OA and Council Pins???

I suppose things come and go in terms of style, but whatever did happened to OA and Council pins? I always thought pins were a nice addition to collections but they seem to be mostly ignored. They appeared to be on a decline long before since I started collecting. I am always on the lookout for Black Eagle Lodge pins, Transatlantic Council pins, Chickasaw Council pins, and lodge 406 and 558 pins. I have been collecting them for almost as long as I have been collecting the patches to these lodges and councils.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)

The first time I saw anyone collect pins with any certainty was at the 1997 Jamboree. I saw a few people actively looking for lodge flap pins; however, I saw more people trying to dump collections of pins at the 1997 Jamboree.

I rarely see people ask or offer pins for trade these days. I suppose they are like woven flaps. They are some of the most beautiful and yet simplest patches but wovens made today are not the same as those made from the past. Perhaps the same is true with pins...

Blast From The Past...Back Eagle Conference 1970 Camp Dahn

I was digging through my cabinets at home and came across some old photos from a Black Eagle Lodge Fellowship held at Camp Dahn sometime in September 1970. I originally discovered them digging through lockers at my scout hut on Patrick Henry Village in Heidelberg, Germany. I took them fearing they would end up in a trash can one day. The set was numbered up to 16 but when I got my hands on the pictures only 9 remained and I will share a few of them with you all.

The photos were all taken by SP/5 Tucker from the 69th Signal Co. at the time.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



Active voting participation to elect officers of Black Eagle Lode is one of many events taking place at Camp Dahn, Dahn, Germany, during the Black Eagle Lodge Conference.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



Robert Nett, newly elected chief of the Black Eagle Lodge, Order of the Arrow, is shown here in full Indian outfit while addressing the lodge.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



Here a scout trains other lodge members in one of many scout led training sessions. Scouts from all across Europe and England met at Dahn, Germany for the annual Black Eagle Lodge Conference.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



An Eagle Scout is shown here leading a discussion with scouts from the Transatlantic Council of the Boy Scouts of America. His classroom is held in an Army field tent at Dahn, Germany.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



A member of the Boy Scout Indian dance team shown dancing the Eagle Dance for German children and adults in Dahn, Germany. The Indian dancing was part of the many activities in a week-long Boy Scout Conference held at Camp Dahn in Dahn, Germany.

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)



Order of the Arrow Scouts gather around the traditional flaming campfire which highlights evening Indian Folk-lore dances.

If were a Black Eagle member during this time perhaps, just perhaps, you will find yourself here and remember the good times you had during this event. ;)

Almost...But Never Was (Part 1)

I was flipping through my Black Eagle collection today and discovered something I had forgotten about for a while. Ever wonder how many patches are designed these days but never see the light of day? Well, many years ago my father and myself decided to design a patch for the lodge. I have no idea if our intention was to make a new service flap or a patch for NOAC as a fund raiser. It never made it past the design phase. We sent in a picture of an eagle and basic requirements of what was to be on the flap. I do remember we wanted the American Flag background. It turned OK but we were hoping for a lot better since we sent it into a patch company so that they could design it in a more professional format. Instead of getting a whole eagle like we expected we only got an eagle head on the flap. I think we paid about ten dollars or perhaps twenty dollars for them to do this design. Below is what we got in return...

(Click on Picture for Larger Scan if Available)

We submitted it to the lodge and sadly the designed was turned down. Turns out a few other designs were tucked away in folder at this meeting as well. I believe it was for the 2002 NOAC time frame but could of been around for the 2000 NOAC as well. The lodge asked for people to come up with designs which happens to be a rarity in Black Eagle. I gave it a lot thought and even took it to a professional designer and the LEC spent what felt like less than a minute deciding its fate.

I was crushed by that outcome and despite my love for patches I vowed to myself to never design a patch for Black Eagle again. Turns that statement would hold mostly true. It wasn't until we got some cork material to make some cork flaps that we decided to take a stab at patch making. We were not going to make the same mistake again. Instead of coming with an original design, Dan Coberly, my father, and myself simply decided to go with the Eagle from the old W-1 flap. It turns out keeping the design simple allowed the cork background to stand out even more. The elders in the lodge were mostly aware of the cork flaps but I do not think they were ever really voted on. I stopped attending LEC meetings years ago so I have no idea. It was one of many issues to be adopted by the lodge after they came into being. They were quite popular and another cork flap was made so that more members could have one. My father paid for the materials and donated all money he put into the cork flaps to the lodge. The flaps were pretty popular inside and outside the lodge. My first design was a flop...my second ended up being pictured in the Blue Book. :)