I would like to take this opportunity to thank Brig. Gen. Campbell for his assisting the Pine Tree Council Boy Scouts of America as part of his 5-Year Innovative Readiness Training Mission.

As an Eagle Scout, Gen. Campbell clearly understands the Eagle Challenge, which is “to give back to scouting what scouting has given to him.” Headed up by the Pine Tree Council Scout executive, Eric Tarbox, himself a Virginia Military Institute graduate, and the Properties Committee, they will ensure that all council properties will be optimized for use by scouting youth.

Gen. Campbell will coordinate the Maine Reserve and National Guard forces to enhance P.T.C. Camps as their mission. They will be building access roads, clearing areas, and enhancing sites at all four scout camps; Bomazeen, Hinds, Gustin, and Nutter. This will serve also to be an opportunity for the military units to hone their skills.

As evidence of the tremendous impact this mission will have, you would just need to have watched “Bill Green’s Maine” on June 2, where he highlighted the work being done at Camp Hinds. If you wanted to come away with a sense of renewed respect for what our Maine military is capable of, this was it. Building, not just destroying, is also in the military lexicon.

I had the pleasure to meet Gen. Campbell during last year’s University of Scouting, where he was the speaker. I realized he is a scouter through and through, never having lost his zeal for the program and what it offers. I am privileged to say that Gen. Campbell is one of Maine’s own and he shows his pride in Maine by the selfless, enduring legacy of tangible things he does for this great state and its’ youth.

Charles Ferguson, district commissioner

Kennebec Valley

Boy Scouts of America

Windsor