page_title: History of the Boy Scouts of America
section_title: World War I and beyond
hierarchical_section_title: History of the Boy Scouts of America / World War I and beyond
caption_attribution_description: "WAKE UP, AMERICA!" It was an inspiring moment when, during the great parade up Fifth avenue, New York, recently, the boy scouts charged with flags flying. This photograph was taken during the April 19, 1917 Parade in New York City called the "Wake Up, America!" parade. This parade was days after the U.S. declared war on Germany on April 6, signaling our involvement in WWI. President Woodrow Wilson, who was just inaugurated for a second term, called for large recruitment into the armed forces, and these "Wake Up, America" parades were held in many places across the country in support of recruitment. A surprising amount of 60,000 people attended this single parade in New York. This exact photograph was digitized from a 1917 copy of a National Geographics Magazine.
context_page_description: The Boy Scouts of America was inspired by and modeled on the Boy Scout Association, established by Baden-Powell in Britain in 1908. In the early 1900s, several youth organizations were active, and many became part of the BSA.
  The BSA was founded in 1910 and grew rapidly and became the largest youth organization in the United States. Early issues involved race, the "younger boy problem," and the "older boy problem." Troops initially followed local community policy on race. For younger boys, the Cubbing program arose and for older boys, Rovering and Exploring programs were developed. Additional programs and changes have occurred over the years to adapt the program to the youth of the day.
context_section_description: Boy Scouts served as crowd control at the inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson in 1913, and have served at every inauguration since in some ceremonial role.  The Philadelphia Area Council started a Scout honor society called the Order of the Arrow in 1915 that eventually became an important part of the Boy Scout program.
  Paul Sleman, Colin H. Livingstone, Ernest S. Martin and James E. West successfully lobbied Congress for a congressional charter for the BSA–partly as a way to deal with competition from the Lone Scouts of America, which President Woodrow Wilson signed on June 15, 1916. It reads: 
  That the purpose of this corporation shall be to promote, through organization and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in Scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods which are now in common use by Boy Scouts.
  In addition, the following:  Warren Gard (1873-1929) from Hamilton, Ohio, served as a United States Congressman from 1913–1921.  He was also a lawyer and judge in Hamilton.  One of Representative Gard's accomplishments was writing, introducing and securing the passage of H.R.755 which incorporated the Boy Scouts of America and created their national charter.  Congress passed the Bill unanimously, and President Wilson sign it into law on June 15, 1916. On November 12, 2016, one hundred years later, an Ohio Historical Marker honoring Warren Gard was placed close to his grave stone in Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton to honor Gard's accomplishments during his lifetime.  His great niece, Kathleen Stuckey Fox, did all the background and leg work to create this marker for her Great Uncle Warren, whom she never had the privilege of knowing personally.  
  During the war, radio transmitters were regulated, and Scouts were called to look for unauthorized units.  Scouts were used as message runners, coast watchers, and were to be alert for men who had not reported for duty.  Over $352 million of war bonds were sold by Scouts along with $101 million War Saving Stamps.  They collected fruit pits to be processed into charcoal for gas masks and inventoried black walnut trees for use as propellers and gun stocks.  The War Garden program was intended for Scouts to raise food at home, but was only moderately successful.
  When Baden-Powell returned to the US in 1919, the BSA held a huge rally in Central Park, and later a rally for the return of General John J. Pershing.  During the war, it was noted that troops tended to fold if the Scoutmaster was called for service.  Changes in the troop structure included limiting the size to 32 Scouts, the introduction of the troop committee and the senior patrol leader position.  The Associate Scout, Veteran Scout and Pioneer Scout programs were introduced for Scouts with loose or no troop affiliation.  Select paid commissioners in first class councils started to become the first Scout executives and an early professional development program was implemented.  Theodore Roosevelt died in January 1919, Dan Beard lead a pilgrimage of Scouts to the grave in October in what became an annual event.
  The BSA sent a large contingent to the 1920 World Scout Jamboree.  Baden-Powell presented the Silver Wolf to West and Livingstone.  West was persuaded to write the constitution and by-laws for what became the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).  As part of the world movement, the BSA adopted the left handshake and a new uniform: the high collar jacket was replaced by a shirt and neckerchief and shorts were added as an option.
  With a high concentration of troops in the New York City area, administration started to become burdensome.  In 1921, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was persuaded to head a foundation overseeing the New York borough councils.  Dr. George J. Fisher, a YMCA administrator, was recruited as the Deputy Chief Scout Executive.  The US was divided 12 regions and then into areas directly reportable to the National Council.  Boys' Life was in financial trouble by 1923
caption: Boy Scouts take to the streets in New York City, 1917
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