Oct. 9, 2011

Cub Scouting with Burt Danenburg/button

Scouting has been a major part of my life and especially in my adulthood. It seems as though this was a direct result of the scripture that says to raise a child in the way he should go when he is young and when he is old he will not depart from it.  I was raised in somewhat of a scouting environment. My grandfather Hansen and my own father were active as an adult scouters and even presented awards for the activity as scouters. Grandpa was presented the Silver Beaver award in 1940 and I received the Silver Beaver award in 1992. My main activity however started at the age of eight as a new Bobcat Scout in Cub Scouting. In our District at that time we would often hold huge pack meetings where every cub scout unit in the district would come to the stake center and be a part of the activity. It was a huge affair each time and I quickly learned that I had better shine my shoes and wear my complete uniform. We had inspections each time where the District Scout Executive would  have us all line up as dens in our packs around the cultural hall prior to any activities and he would then personally conduct the inspections.

Well this one meeting I was particularly aware of how shined my shoes would have to be and spent over an hour shining them as I got ready for pack meeting that night. I can still feel the anticipation that I felt as I went to the church and met with my friends in the den and pack. We lined up and as I remember I was lined up with my den and my parents were right there behind me. My mother and father were good friends with the District Scouting people as I remember and we often had parties at our home to which they were always invited. My Danenburg was no different and I am sure the event that took place that night for me may have even been discussed with them prior to the event. I was smartly standing at attention as he came down the row. My shoes were very shiny and I felt everything was in top shape for the inspection.  Was I ever wrong!  I was indeed pretty ready but I didn’t have one of the buttons on my shirt buttoned and what came next I really wasn’t ready for at all. As Mr. Danenburg  approached me I remember the anticipation and as he inspected me every thing was going well until he saw that button. Oh yes the shoes were shined and he had noticed so I was glad that I had spent the time on them but that button was of such small significance that it never even crossed my mind to need to button it. I still remember how he took the button in his big hand (He was a huge man and probably weighed 300 pounds as far as I could tell at that age and to look up into his face required my neck to bend clear back to my shoulders as far as it could, I was also sure he was no less that 6 foot 3 inches tall.  Anyway he took that button in his hand and said to me. Do you want this button? I replied “Yes” and t that moment he took out his pocket knife and quickly removed it from my shirt and handed it to me. I was shocked and as I turned and looked at mom he then said to me, “Well you can have it if you will sew it back on when you get home.” And then I am sure he must have winked at my mom as he said; “And don’t let your mother do it for you.” I don’t remember any of the rest of the activities that night or even if our pack won an award for the inspection but I have never forgotten to button the pockets on my shirt ever since. I am glad now for the training he gave to me in that one little moment of my youth and have always been very careful to point out to my scouts the need to always look sharp when wearing the uniform, but as of yet, I have never cut off one of their buttons.