Colonial Virginia Council issues 2013 Friends of Scouting CSP

Colonial Virginia Council recently issued their 2013 Friends of Scouting CSP, tenth in the Scout Law series which began in 2004. The theme of this year's patch is "BRAVE" and the design features a Boy Scout and a Cub Scout saluting a soldier silhouetted against a setting sun. The patch is apparently from a different manufacturer than its predecessors since the size is several millimeters smaller in width. You can add this patch to your collection with a $75 contribution to the Council. Check out all of the patches in the Scout Law series on the CVC Friends of Scouting emblems page.

Wahunsenakah issues pewter belt buckle

At their annual Holiday Banquet on December 1, 2012 a new pewter belt buckle for Wahunsenakah Lodge was sold for the first time. The design mirrors that of the Lodge's official service flap, the S2.

100 of the buckles were made, and they were sold for $15.00 each.

The buckle was manufactured by the Witch Trail Committee of Mansfield, MA. This nonprofit group was originally formed in 1968 by a Scout troop that set out to research and document an historic trail as a troop project. Since the Freedom Trail in Boston already existed the troop decided to document the history of the witch hysteria of the 1600's in nearby Salem. After submitting their report to the national office the Witch Trail was declared an historical BSA trail. It was the first of nine trails researched, documented, cleaned, and marked by the group, which supports itself through the sale of books, patches, and pewter medals for each of the trails.

The group also designs and creates custom pewter bolo ties, buckles, medals, and medallions, specializing in Order of the Arrow, Wood Badge, and other Scout related subjects. You can view samples of their work on their web site. I think the Wahunsenakah buckle is the nicest one they have ever produced!

Colonial Virginia Council issues Wood Badge CSP

Colonial Virginia Council issued their first new shoulder patch of 2013 in late January with a CSP recognizing Wood Badge, the training course for adult Scouters that was designed by Lord Baden Powell, whose figure is central to the patch design. On either side are emblems of the 8 standard Wood Badge patrols: Beaver, Bobwhite, Eagle, Fox, Owl, Bear, Buffalo, and Antelope. The emblem of the optional 9th patrol, the Raven, is in the lower left. The Wood Badge logo of an axe embedded in a log is in the lower right. Gilwell Park was the site of the first Scoutmaster Training Course in 1919, and remains as the worldwide home of Wood Badge.

This and all of the other shoulder patches issued by the council can be viewed at the Colonial Virginia Council CSP page.

Patch scan courtesy of Larry Johnson

Fake Wahunsenakah jacket patch surfaces

Unauthorized version of 333 J-1 jacket patch

In November of 2012 a Wahunsenakah Lodge 333 jacket patch was listed on eBay for sale by a seller from Hong Kong. To those not familiar with the official issues of the lodge it appeared perfectly legitimate. In fact, even to those familiar with the official issues of the lodge it probably appears perfectly legitimate. Although the design of the patch is spot on, there are color differences that identify it as an item that was never issued by the Lodge:

• The border is red, rather than the black border of the official issue.
• The background of the wildlife scene with three ducks is light blue rather than the silver-gray of the official issue.

Otherwise the design is virtually identical which suggests that the patch was made from the original embroidery pattern. Given the scarcity of this variety it is probable that this patch was perhaps a manufacturer's sample rather than a full loom run.

Official version of 333 J-1 jacket patch

You can view full sized versions of both the official and the newly discovered red border variety on the Wahunsenakah Emblems-Other page on kecoughtan.com here.

Thanks to Larry Johnson for the picture and information about the red-bordered 333 ZJ-1 jacket patch.

Wahunsenakah issues Holiday Banquet patch

The Brothers of Wahunsenakah Lodge 333 gathered for their annual Holiday Banquet on December 1. Hosted by Pamunkey Chapter, the banquet was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Hampton. Guest speaker for the event was Eagle Scout and Brotherhood Member, Mr. Parrish Crosby; Virginia Air and Space Museum Scout Liaison.

In keeping with the prior 2012 activity patch theme of recognizing the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, the Holiday Banquet patch issued for the occasion features a scene from the Battle of Williamsburg, inspired by the 1893 illustration of the event by Kurz and Allison entitled Battle of Williamsburg-Gen. Hancock's charge, May 5, 1862 (pictured below).

The activity patches for Wahunsenakah Lodge this year have been outstanding examples of utilizing local features to highlight the unique culture and history of the region served by the Council and Lodge. The Lodge Insignia Committee deserves recognition for taking the time and effort to insure that the event patches served as far more than generic or standard themed emblems, but instead paid tribute to a significant part of our nation's past while highlighting the local areas involved. I am sorry to see the year end and the series completed. It will be a hard act to follow!