Beale celebrates 50 years of scouting Published Jan. 29, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Bobby Cummings 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Boy Scouts of America Troop 44, which is based out of Beale held a dinner Jan. 26 at the Recce Point Club to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The Troop was first chartered in 1963 under the Butte Area District of the Golden Empire Council in Northern California. The guest speaker for the event was Col. Phil Stewart, 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander. Among the attendees were the members of Troop 44 along with their families. "I believe that today there is no finer program preparing America's boys for leadership than the Boy Scouts of America," Stewart said. Troop 44 performed ceremonial activities including the posting of the colors, leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and reciting the Scout Law. "For most of you your scouting experience is the first step toward the most important goal of all, becoming a good man, a man of integrity, decency, courage, a man not afraid of hard work and a man of strong character," Stewart said. The event was hosted by Senior Master Sgt. Joshua Trundle, 13th Intelligence Squadron, first sergeant and Jason Twing, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant. "It's the leadership principles that you learn early on in life that have a lasting impact throughout your life," said Trundle, who is the leading scout master for Troop 44 and has been a scout for more than 20 years. The event also honored Airman 1st Class Robert Severson, 9th AMXS crew chief, who was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. Shane Griego, committee chairman for Troop 44 said, "The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young men to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. For more than 50 years Troop 44 has been doing just that and is excited at the prospect of continuing to do so for the next 50 years and beyond."