Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Evergreen Troop 361 of the Mission Amigos District from the San Gabriel Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America. On October 22nd, Troop 361 will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Troop 361 was founded with twelve boys in 1955 by members of the Evergreen Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Since 1955, Troop 361 has enjoyed the excellent sponsorship of the Evergreen Baptist Church. The Church, and Troop 361, subsequently moved to the City of Rosemead, and the Troop transferred to the Mission Amigos District of the San Gabriel Valley Council. With its beautiful mountains and proximity to the ocean, the San Gabriel Valley is the ideal place for boys to learn the scouting ways, as one of the mainstays of the Boy Scouts program is participation in a wide array of outdoor activities.
Over the years, Troop 361 has grown and thrived. Hundreds of scouts have passed through the ranks of Troop 361, and it is a further testament to the strong leadership and high caliber of young men that over 80 scouts in this troop have earned the most prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. Today, Troop 361 is proud to have 55 outstanding scouts under the leadership of Ted Sakamoto, a Scoutmaster who has dedicated thousands of hours to ensuring that Troop 361 remains strong and successful.
Troop 361 is an integral part of the proud tradition of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts of America develop and nurture in our youth a strong sense of character, leadership, and respect. Boy Scouts are well-rounded, resourceful, and responsible, and Troop 361 exemplifies all of these qualities.
I am proud to congratulate Troop 361 on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, and I ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring this Troop for its dedication to scouting and for helping boys become upstanding young men.