More about Square knot insignia (19 Aug 13)

 

1. If he earned all three palms as an Eagle, is there something to show that on his adult uniform?

 

2. (And this is because I’m a newbie, so please don’t laugh too hard) He earned his arrow of light as a boy scout, is that a different knot than if he were to earn it as an adult leader? The same question for the order of the arrow, Duty to God and On my Honor. Is it a different knot if he earned it as a youth? I guess that’s probably the Religious knot on your chart. I just need to sew on these patches, but I’m concerned we may need to exchange some of his knots.

 

3. What is the NESA life membership award? (He had a traumatic brain injury and can’t remember if he is a part of that. Is there somewhere I can look it up?

I

 appreciate your help with this. I’m a little overwhelmed with all this stuff, but excited to dive right in! Things are getting Knotty around here!

Hi Sarah!! For some reason the first version didn’t take, so here it is again! You wrote and asked:

 

“1. If he earned all three palms as an Eagle, is there something to show that on his adult uniform?”

 

If he earned the Bronze, Gold and Silver Palm to his Eagle Scout Award, he should wear the SILVER PALM ONLY (the highest Palm or combination of Palms earned) centered on the Eagle Scout (or NESA Life Member Eagle) square knot emblem. Take a look at http://www.scoutinsignia.com/devices.htm to see how that is done (the discussion about the Eagle Palms along with color illustrations are toward the bottom of the page).

 

“2. (And this is because I’m a newbie, so please don’t laugh too hard) He earned his arrow of light as a boy scout, is that a different knot than if he were to earn it as an adult leader? The same question for the order of the arrow, Duty to God and On my Honor. Is it a different knot if he earned it as a youth? I guess that’s probably the Religious knot on your chart. I just need to sew on these patches, but I’m concerned we may need to exchange some of his knots.”

 

No, I have answered a similar question fourteen times this morning before getting to Bryan’s blog and your questions — so I’m not laughing at all.

 

If he earned the Arrow of Light as a Cub Scout, there is an Arrow of Light square knot emblem he can wear to signify that accomphishment. Boy Scouts do not wear square knot representations of advancement awards — they wear the actual advancement on their uniform. Adults don’t earn nor wear advancement items on their uniform — hence the square knot insignia for the Arrow of Light (and Eagle, Quartermaster and Silver) earned as a youth.

 

There is no square knot insignia for *members* of the Order of the Arrow, Sarah. They wear the Arrow pin “dangle” and/or their Lodge’s flap on the right pocket. There IS a square knot item representing the medallion received by Distinguished Arrowmen for service to the Order of the Arrow over a period of time. Check out http://www.scoutinsignia.com/dangle.htm to see what I’m talking about as far as a “dangle” goes…*smiling*

 

As far as the two religious emblems — he should wear the youth religious emblem square knot with a Boy Scout program device in the center of it to signify that he received the two religious emblems as a Boy Scout.

 

You should not have to exchange any of them if you purchased the right ones. You can go to the back of the Guide to Awards and Recognitions or you can view the full-color versions on my Badge and Uniform Site at http://www.scoutinsignia.com/clotknot.htm

 

“3. What is the NESA life membership award? (He had a traumatic brain injury and can’t remember if he is a part of that. Is there somewhere I can look it up?”

 

The National Eagle Scout Association Life Membership insignia (it is NOT an “award”, just a catagory of registration in NESA) can be worn IN THE PLACE OF (not in addition to) the standard Eagle Scout square knot insignia. If he has a card stating that he’s a life member of the NESA, he or you can purchase the square knot emblem (it has a silver border instead of the standard khaki-tan border) and wear the Silver Palm centered on that knot emblem on his uniform. If he does not have a card; or is unsure, you or he can contact NESA directly at nesa@scouting.org and ask them for verification. And if he’s NOT a life member of NESA, he should be!!! *smiling*

 

Hope that this helps you out, Sarah…