Co. "B" is so busy we haven't room to put it all in!---but: To pay for monuments at the sites for those men and a woman who died in San Diego, we are asking a donation for Commemorative MB blankets (an authentic replication of those issued at Ft. Leavenworth to the original MB men)--$175, suggested donation. The donor receives a numbered Certificate of Authenticity and a frame-able parchment certificate. Also, we held a debut for the new video, "A Legacy More Precious than Gold," at the MB Visitors Center. Dressed in period costume, we were privileged to display the "musket," loaned to us by the National Staff. Recently, we did a service project in Old Town State Park: the Ladies wove a reed roof for the Mathado House patio, and the men cleaned a large area of the Park. We're making an impression!
While we are very busy with neckerchief slide presentations to Eagle Scouts, we are also anxious to help get the www web site started. Bob Cole states: "I accept this assignment with great excitement and humility. Now the whole world will have the opportunity to hear the MB message. The size and scope of our endeavor is tremendous. Anyone with comments on the content of the page may contact me, Box 454, West Jordan, UT 84084, or by email: xxx. We expect to be on-site within the next 30 days." [The National Staff praised Bob and his committee for their preparation and gave their approval, enthusiastically.]
Marking the 151 st anniversary of the crossing of Imperial Valley by the Mormon Battalion, a combined troop of Varsity scouts did a 15-mile, night-time hike (on beef jerky and dry biscuits, with some unannounced rain) to commemorate the march of that first crossing. Troops 4079 and 4070 from Imperial Valley, Troop 3148 from Calexico, and Troop 3143 from Santee met at HWY 8 & Mt. Signal Road and hiked to Plaster City. At Mt. Signal Road, Eagle Scout Pedro Puga placed his Eagle Scout project, a stone monument with a quote on it from Henry Boyle and a "Battalion Charlie" carved into it. Each boy completing the hike received a T-shirt with "Charlie" on it and the words, "I Hiked the Desert at Night." This is an annual event, made special by the placing of the monument marker--and the rain, which the original Battalion would have welcomed with open mouths.
[ED.: Keep it up, Bill! We hope for a company there soon!]
From time to time, we must recall what our mandate is: To bring honor to the original men and women of the Battalion, and to get their descendants to "bless their fathers." We have a work to do that others will not do; sometimes, this means a Court of Honor or marching in a parade, but always doing what we feel needs to be done to fulfill prophecy. Let us not fail our dedication.