Governor, defense secretary help greet Boy Scouts

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Scouts dance as a member of the United State Army Golden Knights Skydive Team lands to a popular club song. Credit: EVA RUSSO/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Gov. Bob McDonnell spoke to Boy Scouts and their leaders today at the National Scout Jamboree. Credit: EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Staff and scouts salute the flag during the Opening Arena Show. Credit: EVA RUSSO/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Scouts prepare for the opening arena show. Credit: EVA RUSSO/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks at the opening arena show of the National Boy Scout Jamboree. Credit: EVA RUSSO/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Scouts listen to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Credit: EVA RUSSO/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH

By: Times-Dispatch Staff | Times-Dispatch
Published: July 28, 2010

About 40,000 Scouts, leaders and staff packed into an open-air arena at Fort A.P. Hill this morning for the Opening Arena Show of the 10-day National Scout Jamboree.

The gathering of mostly khaki-clad boys was filled with patriotic messages, a parachute-borne landing by the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights and performances by the U.S. Air Force Drill team and the Army’s Herald Trumpets.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a former Scout who said the experience continues to be an influence on his life, praised the 100-year-old Boy Scouts of America for "uncompromising high standards" that he said too few other institutions offer.

"At a time when many American young people are turning into couch potatoes and too often much worse, scouting continues to challenge boys and young men, preparing you for leadership" Gates said.

A Scout official had earlier said a videotaped message from President Barack Obama would be played for the Scouts, but none was shown. After the event, Scouting spokesman Bob Dries would only say that there had been a change in the schedule.

Dries had earlier said Obama had been invited months ago but declined. The last president to decline to speak was President Bill Clinton in his first term, although Clinton did visit the Jamboree during his second term, Dries said.

In 2001, President George W. Bush appeared by video after bad weather scrubbed his visit.

In 2005, more than 300 Scouts and adults fell ill from the heat while waiting for Bush to arrive for an arena show before his appearance was cancelled because of threatening thunderstorms. Bush rescheduled and spoke to the Scouts several days later.

Yesterday, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell also spoke at the Opening Arena Show, noting Virginia has about 70,000 Boy Scouts who last year performed about 350,000 hours of community service.

Thousands of cases of bottled water were placed around the arena and Jamboree workers handed more water out for the Scouts as the temperature rose into the 80s during the two-hour show.