Mr. W. S. Boardman
March 28, 1940
from local men who examined me on various subjects for merit badges. Later I was called in to the national headquarters where I was examined again by representatives of the national staff as they wanted me to be sure that I was properly qualified. Mr. Daniel Beard examined me on several subjects personally. Mr. Longfellow, who wrote the articles on life-saving and swimming in the Scout Manual, examined me on those subjects and Mr. West and several others grilled me rather thoroughly, as I remember it. When I was awarded the Eagle Scout Badge, I was a student in the Oceanside School, and I believe that I was the first one to receive a Regents’ Certificate after the High School was approved as a senior high school. It was not until September 1912 that I actually received the Eagle Scout Badge as there had been no dies made. I entered Cornell University in the fall of 1912. Most of the boys were then around 17 or 18. I believe the early part of 1913 the troop more or less disbanded as my brother left Rockville Center about that time.
I trust this will answer your questions and will give you a little background of the scouting activities at that time.
Yours very truly,
ARE:M