The past few days have been sad and gloomy. The forest, which used to be a happy training ground for all of us, is dark. It is filled with grief and sorrow, just like us, as we bid goodbye to these beautiful souls, who have dedicated most of their time and effort in the wild, in the outdoors, in Scouting. They are among those few who were called to be bearers of the Scouting torch, masters of life skills and character development, and bridges to a better future. These members of the National Training Team were not just trainers, or mentors, or leaders. They were angels who have touched the lives of our dear Scouts and Scout Leaders in a very special way. And now that they have reached the final camping ground to meet our Greatest Scoutmaster, their wings have grown bigger, their smiles, sweeter; for in the hands of our loving God, they will suffer no more. They will now be in the company of fellow trainers and perhaps sharing memories in the famous BP Circle around the Campfire.
To the bereaved families of the departed ones, I know I couldn’t prevent the pain and longing in your hearts. Still, I want you to know that we are one with you in going through this. They may have shared with you their stories and experiences in Scouting, how they started, what kept them going, and what their dreams and aspirations were. Now is my turn to let you know, how proud they are to have wonderful families like you. Between training sessions, under the sun and during coffee breaks, they never failed to tell us how thankful they were of your love, care and support to them. We were more than just training team members. We were family. We are family. And just like you, we will be forever thankful for their significant contributions to our lives and to our noble Movement. Rest assured, their legacies will never be forgotten. They will always be loved and remembered.
Until we all meet them again.
