This has been true for all Scouts and Cubs in Oak Ridge, but it has been an especially meaningful week for the members of Troop 129 sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Oak Ridge. The troop, which includes some 70 people total, holds the distinction of being the oldest Scout troop in the city. In anticipation of their 40th anniversary in January 1985, the members of the troop selected this Scout Week to kick off some special projects and goals.

Tom Moore, who is in his 14th year as scoutmaster, talked this week about the history of the troop and future plans. "Back in 1942 or '43," he said, "there was one Scout troop. It got so large they divided it and in late 1944 Troop 129 was created. Troop 129 has managed to keep going. The other is no longer in existence, which makes 129 the oldest in Oak Ridge."

In recognition of their 40th anniversary the troop has elected to start an annual Pancake Breakfast to benefit various other community service groups. This year it will be Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center.

Michael Stricklin, left, and Scoutmaster Tom Moore hold a poster advertising the Pancake Breakfast on Saturday to benefit Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center. Stricklin has organized and coordinated the Scouts' activities for the breakfast as his Eagle Scout project.

The first Pancake Breakfast will be held Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church. The group is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Oak Ridge, and First Baptist Church provides a meeting place. All proceeds from the breakfast will go to Daniel Arthur.

"This is the first year for this community awareness effort for the troop," Moore said. "This will be an effort to get to know the other groups in town that help others. We hope to make the Pancake Breakfast an annual event with all the proceeds each year going to some local organizations such as Daniel Arthur.."

The troop selected Daniel Arthur this year in the hope that the center can make more funds available to its scouting program. The Daniel Arthur Scout program is the larges in town, numbering more than 100 members, Scouts and Cubs from seven surrounding counties.

This year's Pancake Breakfast is the Eagle Scout project of Michael Stricklin, son of Billy and Sandra Stricklin, 146 Newport.

"Michael has been in charge of planning the breakfast and organizing the Scout's participation," Moore said. "Rubin Brown, chief at First Baptist, will be cooking for the breakfast. The Scouts will assist him, help with the serving and the cleaning up. Members of the Kiwanis will also be helping," he explained.

The breakfast is open to the community at $2.50 for adults and $1 for children age 8 and under.

Another goal which the troop has set for this anniversary year is to have 10 Scouts who have achieved the rank of Eagle by the annual awards banquet next year.

The annual banquet for this year will be Saturday night in the First Baptist Activities Building where the troop meets. It will also include a Court of Honor. "We have Court of Honor four times a year," Moore added, "but this is the big one."

Members of the Color Guard for Troop 129 at Monday evening's meeting. From the left are Mike Fry, Michael Stricklin and Peter Osucha.

Discussing the goal of 10 Eagle Scouts in the coming year, Moore related, "I've been researching our records and right now we have awarded 39 Eagles, essentially one per year." How does that compare with national averages? "One out of every 100 boys who join Scouting become Eagles," he said. "So that is a good average."

In addition to the annual Pancake Breakfast and the goal of 10 Eagles for next year, the troop will continue with current programs.

Since 1979 the troop has continuously served the community by recycling paper. Each Monday the troop collects newsprint and other paper and hauls it to Knoxville for recycling about every four to six weeks. The program is used to help defray transportation costs for the troop's month outings.

Through the paper program the troop has purchased two buses. One is used to haul the paper, the other is used as troop transportation. "Both of the buses are paid for now," Moore said. "Now we would like to invest in some canoes and a canoe carrier."

Another annual project of the troop is the delivery of the city's calendar/financial report to each home in Oak Ridge. "The city pays the troop for this service," More said, "but it is a substantial savings over mailing costs."

One aspect of the troop's program of which Moore is especially proud is the continued interest of older Scouts in their troop. "I really emphasize boy leadership," he said, "and they enjoy working with the younger Scouts."

Additional future plans include a trip to the Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky this summer. "This will be our fourth trip there," Moore said. "We will spend the time concentrating on advancements. We will offer merit badges in sailing, all the aquatic type merit badges and wildlife merit badges."

Rodney Sitterson is shown lashing poles during a knot tying session.

But it's one day at a time, and Saturday will be a big day with Troop 129 events scheduled from dawn to dusk as it were. The Pancake Breakfast will start the day at 7 a.m., and the annual banquet will close in that evening. The troop is off and running for the 40th anniversary.