My son has just made Eagle scout and for his court of honor, I would like to play this speech that John Wayne did just before he died.

It was at a dinner in CA, maybe Lake Arrowhead, where a Scout Camp was being named in his honor.

This is a wonderful version of the scout law and I would love to hear HIM doing the speech, rather than someone just reading it.

Any help would be appreciated!

Daughn

Howdy and welcome to the board!
I don't believe that an audio of John Wayne reciting the scout law exists. If it does, I can't find it anywhere. Here is a transcript of it from a web site that features it:

A great American, John Wayne, passed away many years ago. One of his last public appearances was at a dinner. He was riddled with cancer and knew he was close to death. The purpose of the dinner was to benefit a land purchase for a Scout Reservation called John Wayne Outpost Camp. At this dinner, Wayne recited the Scout Law. Then he did something unusual, he said the twelve points of the Scout Law are "nice words". "Trouble is" he continued. "We learn them so young we sometimes don't get all the understanding that goes with them. I take care of that in my family. As each boy reaches Scout age, I make sure he learns the Scout Law. Then I break it down for him, with a few things I have picked up in more than half a century since I learned it."

Then Wayne proceeded to explain the importance of the Scout Law, breaking it down for the guests at the dinner; much like he would have for his grandson.




TRUSTWORTHY The badge of honesty. Having it lets you look at any man in the eye. Lacking it he won't look back. Keep this one at the top of your list.



LOYAL The Very word is life itself, for without loyalty we have no love of person or country


HELPFUL Part sharing, part caring. By helping each other, we help ourselves, not to mention mankind. Be always full of help -- the dying man's last words.


FRIENDLY Brotherhood is part of that word. You can take it in a lot of directions - and do - but make sure and start with brotherhood.


COURTEOUS Allow each person his human dignity which means a lot more than saying, "yes ma'am" and "thank you sir". It reflects an attitude that later in life you wish you had honored more... earlier in life. Save yourself that problem. Do it now.


KIND This one word would stop wars and erase hatreds. But its like your bicycle, its just no good unless you get out and use it.


OBEDIENT Starts at home. Practice it in your family. Enlarge it in your friends. Share it with humanity.


CHEERFUL Anyone can put on a happy face when the going is good. The secret is to wear it as a mask for your problems. It might surprise you how many others do the same thing.


THRIFTY Means a lot more than putting pennies away, and it is the opposite of cheap. Common sense covers it just about as well as anything.


BRAVE You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions of good, fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by getting out of bed every morning, going out to do a good day's work and living the best life they know how against the law of odds.


CLEAN Soap and waters help a lot on the outside. But it is the inside that counts and don't ever forget it.


REVERENT Believe in anything that you want to believe in, but keep God at the top of it. With Him, life can be a beautiful experience. Without Him, you are just biding time.

As a Eagle Scout from 25 years ago, I had never heard about that speech Duke made. Very nicely done. Thanks for posting it Bob.

Thank you... I guess one of the Scoutmasters will just read it... would have been great to hear John Wayne's own voice do it again though!!