<p>My husband and son are both at the National Jamboree, one on staff, and the other in a troop. What a terrible tragedy, then hundreds of boys getting sick. We’ve had some anxious moments, and I’ve done a couple of mass E-mails to family and friends, assuring them both my “boys” are OK.</p>
<p>No, but I’m glad to know your boys are ok. What a frightening experience for all.</p>
<p>Hi cangel, remember me? I am your “New Orleans shopping guide” source. As the mom of an Eagle, I have been heartbroken over the turn of events. I will keep your H and S in my prayers.
Tabbyzmom</p>
<p>cangel, I figured we’d know some affected scouts and families but didn’t think about on-line friends. Glad to hear yours are okay. Somethings you just can’t “be prepared” for. What an unfortunate and tragic event.</p>
<p>Yes, Tabbyz, and thanks everyone. I’ve been very busy at work, so I’m somewhat sheltered from the news - a good thing. I keep getting these cryptic cell phone calls and answering machine messages from DH - “we’re still OK”.
My heart aches for all those Alaskan families, what a terrible thing.</p>
<p>Cangel,
Our troop did not send any members to the Jamboree. In fact, I think there are only 160 from our Minsi Trails Council. We’ve been following the reports closely though and I know that scouting families all over the world have been praying and hoping for the safe return of all the scouts. Seems weird to write that since the jamboree is supposed to be one of the FUN highlights of a scouts career.</p>
<p>DH and I visited yesterday; I think the break in the weather has lifted everyone’s spirits. (The heat index Tuesday was 119; yesterday I think it was just into the nineties.) This is the second jambo we’ve visited and it was again amazing to see.</p>
<p>Cangel,</p>
<p>We live in Alaska, and while we are geographically far from the area where the gentlemen lived, Alaskans in general feel very badly about this.</p>
<p>Because of our isolation and the relative difficulty in getting in and out of the state, it is not uncommon to walk down the aisle of an airliner and see many people you know or are aquainted with. This happened to my son as he was traveling back to DC. He was travelling in uniform, and the scoutleaders struck up a conversation with him. He then was seated next to one of the scouts and they talked about USNA and music during the very long flight. </p>
<p>When they arrived in DC, our son was waiting a very long time for his seabag when the leaders came up to him again and asked him if he needed a hand. He told them what he was looking for, and they said he should come look through their seabags in case they can accidently gotten his. They had piled his in with theirs, and they very kindly extricated it, with the leaders joshing around with him and asking if he wouldn’t prefer to come with them. They had a chuckle, parted amicably, and went their separate ways. </p>
<p>Our son reported and was granted an extra 3 weeks leave, so came back home and was here when the new broke. He was saddened to see that the gentlemen who were killed were part of the party he had spoken with days earlier. </p>
<p>As I said before, Alaskans are very close and the gentlemen that we lost were all great members of the community and will be greatly missed.</p>
<p>I just heard on NPR that another scoutmaster was just killed at Sequoia NP by a lightning strike and a scout who was on the trip is brain dead and being kept alive until his organs can be donated. What a tragic week this has been.</p>
<p>Oh, what a bad week it has been! We live in one of the most dangerous areas of the country for lightning - just one week ago a man and his 9 year old step-son were killed playing catch on the beach.</p>
<p>We were family friends w/ the scout leader who was killed…we’re all just in total shock, our thoughts and prayers are w/ everyone affected by the tragedies over the last few days…</p>
<p>My 10-year-old just returned from the Jamboree (our county schools begin Monday!) and had a wonderful time. The heat was oppressive, but the last two days were ideal weather, and while the tragedy and hardships dominated the news accounts, the Scouts have been having a great experience.</p>
<p>To Cangel and to all of the families associated with the Jamboree, good Scout thoughts going your way. I was a GS leader for 10 years, so I can imagine what you’ve been through. :::slugghuggs:::</p>
<p>I echo Sluggbugg’s concern and good thoughts. S didn’t make it beyond Cub Scouts but H was involved until he got to college. Cangel, I am thinking of you and remembering all the good advice you so generously offered earlier this year. (BTW, we actually found DampRid at BB&B; S skeptically added it to his other stuff, disbelieving he’d need such a thing in Miami. I guess he has a lot to learn about the SE.) </p>
<p>Having just returned from a trip to the mideast where it gets HOT, I watched with some horror first the tragic news and then the photos of the scouts waiting in the sun for hours, and then with more positive affect to the next day’s photos of kids having fun in their various actvities. I imagine most are now safely back home. I hope so.</p>
<p>Both of my boys are counselors at a nearby cubscout day camp. I asked them if there had been a discussion of the jamboree tragedy at their camp (there had) and if they are careful to keep the kids hydrated and not overexposed to the heat (they do). And then days later you have 6 kids killed in a car wreck at dance camp.</p>
<p>Wish_it - he’s a skeptic now, BUT, follow the directions on the box, then call him after he’s been at school 2 weeks, and have him get down the container and shake - side to side NOT, up and down! He may be a believer then.</p>