- November 21, 2024
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Cub scout Legend Austin smiles next to his latest achievement. Photo by Alexis Miller
The exhibit in The Casements was an Eagle Scout project done by John Slaughter. Photo by Alexis Miller
Boy Scouts of American uniform with a 1993 News Journal article. Photo by Alexis Miller
The newest addition to the exhibit, a 1952 Boy Scouts uniform. Photo by Alexis Miller
Legend Austin has been a Cub Scout for a little over two years now. The fifth grader at Pine Trail Elementary has shown his loyalty to the troop by donating his recent discovery to The Casements.
“Scouts have a scout law that is 12 steps and one of those is ‘a scout is loyal,’ and to him making sure that this uniform got where it was supposed to be, he sort of felt like it was something he had to do,” Legend’s mother Shelley Griffin said.
In early January, Legend and his mother were on their way to the Cub Scout store in Apopka when they saw a community garage sale sign and decided to stop. After looking around at some of the items for sale, they noticed an old Cub Scout uniform with a tag that said, “Free to a Cub Scout”. The uniform consisted of a shirt, jeans, patches and a neckerchief.
With a little bit of research, Legend and his mother found out the uniform is over 70 years old; the uniform was from 1952.
One of the reasons why I brought it here is because, if I just kept it in a closet, it would’ve probably just been forgotten about, collecting dust and just sitting there, eventually getting older and no one would be able to see it. Here anyone can come and see it.” — Legend Austin, Cub Scout
Legend went on a tour at The Casements a week prior to his discovery to see the Boy Scout exhibit with his soon-to-be Boy Scout Troop 403. The exhibit was an Eagle Scout project done by John Slaughter and already consisted of two uniforms: one from the 1930s and one from the 1940s, along with patches, neckerchiefs, handbooks, mugs, photos and other items.
After finding out how valuable the 1950s uniform was, Legend decided he wanted to donate it to the Boy Scout exhibit.
“One of the reasons why I brought it here is because, if I just kept it in a closet, it would’ve probably just been forgotten about, collecting dust and just sitting there, eventually getting older and no one would be able to see it," Legend said. "Here anyone can come and see it.”
With the help of his mom and Scott Wagner, the assistant scout master for Troop 403, as well as The Casements, they were able to donate the uniform to the exhibit. Legend also got to help set up the uniform in the exhibit.
“I kind of felt proud that I got to put it on display where anyone who comes here and goes to the exhibit can see it, and maybe it’ll inspire them to donate stuff here so the exhibits can grow,” Legend said.
On Feb. 18, Legend will be graduating from the Cub Scouts and continuing his scout journey with Boy Scout Troop 403. He has received the highest achievement possible for a Cub Scout, and will be celebrating with an arrow lighting ceremony along with one other Cub Scout.
The Boy Scout exhibit at the Casements is located on the third floor. Members of The Casements Guild provide tours of The Casements Monday through Friday, and on Saturday mornings.
