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Vigil Honor
Vigil Honor
The Vigil Honor is the Order's highest honor presented to a member by the lodge.
The honor is bestowed by special election from a group of peers within the
Order upon an individual recognizing exceptional service after a minimum of
two years as a Brotherhood member. Vigil members may be identified by the triangle
imprinted on their sash, in addition to the Arrow of the Ordeal sash and the
bars of the Brotherhood sash (Image shown to the right). Some lodges also supply
a special Vigil Honor flap, although this practice is frowned upon by the National
Committee of the OA. However, the Vigil Honor is not a third level of membership--
they are still a Brotherhood member, but one who has been bestowed with the
Vigil Honor. The members are advanced to the Vigil Honor after completing their
Vigil. The first Vigil Honor member was the founder of the Order of the Arrow,
E. Urner Goodman.
Selection Some lodges restrict the Vigil Selection Committee to Vigil members, while
other will allow experienced, but ineligible, Ordeal and Brotherhood members
on the Committee. Many lodges withhold the mentioning of nominator names
of Vigil Honor nominees to further assure a spirit of annonymousness in the
selection process. Great care should be exercised to assure that copies of
candidate nominations do not unintentionally become public knowledge along
with issues such as vote outcomes and opinions expressed in selection processes.
Lodges may only elect one out of every 50 active members each year to the
Vigil Honor, although not all slots are always filled. At least 50% of candidates
for the Vigil must be youth (under the age of 21). Each OA lodge in the country
is allowed to select up to 2% of the eligible Brotherhood members for Vigil
candidacy. Candidates for Vigil Honor membership must be actively registered
in both a Scouting unit and in their lodge and are elected more for what
they are expected to do, not what they have done. Candidates should not actively
seek the Vigil; doing so is an indication that the candidate is undeserving
of the honor.
Vigil name
After a Candidate has received the Vigil, he or she is bestowed with
a Vigil Name. This name usually represents a characteristic of the individual
that
has made him or her well known to others. The name is usually given in
the language of the Lenape (a Lenape-to-English dictionary, compiled
by a German
missionary, still in use to this day), although some Lodges may use languages
of local tribes. Candidates are also usually provided with the English
translation. Due to the difficulty of pronouncing and remembering the
Delaware translation,
many Vigil members only use the English translation when asked about their
name. Names are usually serious (usually based on the Vigil candidate's
history, hobbies, or other major aspect of his or her life), although
they can be
unintentionally humorous. It is customary in many lodges to convene a meeting
of Vigil Brothers to discuss a name conferral that is in sync with the
high honor that the Vigil denotes. If a Lodge utilizes the standard calling
out
ceremony; the sponsor is also agreed upon who will read out the biography
of said candidate at the appropriate occasion. Call out biographies should
be indicative of "why" the candidate was chosen. Jokes, monologues,
and mindless anecdotes all detract from what is regarded as a milestone
in the Scouting journey of the candidate.
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