President Obama Refused to Sign Eagle Scout Certificates-Fiction!

President Obama Refused to Sign Eagle Scout Certificates-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor:
This is a forwarded email that says President Obama does not support the Boy Scouts and refuses to sign the certificates for those who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The email also says that the President refused to sign the Life Saving Award certificates.

The Truth:
A spokesperson from the public affairs office of the National Council for Boy Scouts of America told TruthOrFiction.com that this is fiction. President Obama's signature appears on the Eagle award, in addition to the signatures of the National President of the Boy Scouts of America, National Commissioner, and the Chief Scout Executive. All those who have worked to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout have been presented certificates signed by the President of the United States.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement that can be earned by a member of the Boy Scouts of America organization which is currently celebrating 100 years of service to local communities. Scouts usually begin at the age of 11 and work from the rank of Tenderfoot to First Class. Many pursue higher levels of advancement such as Star, Life and Eagle by working for merit badges through a system of personal qualification standards on various subjects. An Eagle Scout must complete all levels of advancement, earn 21 merit badges and hold an elected position of leadership.

The spokesperson also told truthorfiction.com that there was a delay in the signed certificates owing to the process of the licensing application for the presidential signature, which is common when a new President takes office. Sitting Presidents have been the honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America and President Obama accepted this honor last year soon after he moved to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The spokesperson added that the President's signature has never appeared on the lifesaving award. The certificate only contains the signature of the National President of the BSA, Chairman, National Court of Honor, and the Chief Scout Executive.

updated 04/01/10

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

This is true. I heard Beauregard on the radio this AM. I don’t think the CEO of the Boy Scouts would lie.
The story you heard yesterday about President Obama refusing to sign Eagle Scout Awards is true.

He won't sign life saving awards either. Every President since 1912 has been the honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America. President Obama refused that honor. Did you hear anything about the Boy Scouts 100th Anniversary? Why did the press ignore it? Let's see, they promote honor, integrity, putting others first, love of country and of course they believe in God. Not much press coverage on this story, the first president in 100 years to insult his finest citizens, Eagle Scouts.

John Beaurguard, CEO of the South Texas Council of the Boy Scouts of America joins us just after 7AM.
David Haynie has two sons who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Dave Hiser's son is working on his Eagle Scout award now.

This is the E-mail Linda Thacker, sent to Glenn Beck and I forwarded to Glenn's producer Adam.

Dear Mr. Beck,

On March 24, 2009 I had the honor of attending my Grandson, David Osborne's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. I imagine you have attended one of these wonderful ceremonies. I also feel confident that you are very knowlegable of what it means to have earned the status of Eagle Scout. Our entire family is so very excited and at the Court of Honor we were all just beaming as our wonderful young man was honored for his acheivements. After the Court was closed David's leaders pulled him aside and explained to him that they regretted to have to explain to him, as sad as it is, that his certificate was different from others they had presented because his certificate did not have the signature of the President of the United States. They explained that Obama does not support the Boy Scouts of America and therefore does not sign the Eagle Certificates. To date I believe there may be as many as 10,000 of this countries finest young men who do not have the signature of the president of the country they have taken an oath to respect and serve on thier Eagle Certificate. To my knowledge Congress chartered BSA in 1916 part of which the President of the United States is the Honorary President of The Boy Scouts of America and President Obama is the first sitting president to personally refuse to sign these certicates. I believe if the country were to be educated on national televison of what the Boy Scouts of America stands for they would join those of us who already know, and would be as outraged as we are!

Also, your good friend Jim Lago was also in attendance at this Eagle Court of Honor. I had the privliege of speaking with him this morning on his radio talk show here in Corpus Christi and shared with him this same information. He was equally alarmed to say the least.

This information should ignite in every parent the urgency to instill the great values held by the Boy Scouts of America in their young men for the cause of maintinaing this great nation. We must stand united. With appreciation, Linda thacker, grandmother to eleven of Americas finest future citizens, David, Erikka, Adam, Ryan, Hailey, Tygh, Mana, Gerritt, Maya, Ezra and Lynden Osborne.

So, that's the story thus far, calls have been made, citizens are angry, especially the parents of Eagle Scouts. Wouldn't it be wonderful if ex-president Bush announced, he would be willing to sign all Eagle Scout Certificates for as long as President Obama is in office?

We have a very small man in a very big office.