Square knot insignia

Square knot insignia

Square knot insignia are embroidered cloth patches that represent awards of the Boy Scouts of America and Scout associations throughout the world. The insignia depicts a square knot made of colored ropes; the colors are generally dictated by the award the insignia is associated with.[1][2]

History

In the earliest days of the Boy Scouts of America, military veterans were urged into service as Scoutmasters. The first Scout uniforms therefore resembled military uniforms. It was common for these veterans to wear their military decorations on their modified Boy Scout uniform — a national uniform was not to be developed until the early 1920s.[2]

Military tradition dictated that the actual medal from a military award was only worn on ceremonial occasions — at other times, it was replaced with a thin ribbon bar with the same ribbon style as found attached to the medal. This carried over to Scouting, whose awards were medals, similar to the military, but were most often worn as ribbons. These ribbons differed from the military style in that, instead of being the same as the ribbon for the medal, they were instead all the same - khaki coloured, with a woven square knot in the centre. The colour of this knot was dictated by the ribbon for the medal. The choice of the square knot as the common emblem was made by James E. West, who is said to have chosen it for its use as the knot associated with first aid, thereby reminding Scouts to continue to be of service to others.[2]

Initial introduction

Initially, eight new ribbons were introduced and later a ninth, which represented the various national awards available at that time:

Further developments

Between the introduction of square knot insignia and today, over 40 new awards have been added. In addition, there are a number of unofficial awards using the insignia, and various other awards that use similar insignia but with different knots depicted.

Insignia of the Boy Scouts of America

Wearing insignia

Knots are worn in rows of three across the top of the wearer's left pocket. When less than 3 knots are worn in a particular row, knots are generally centered to the pocket, or the row below them.

Insignia available to youth

Insignia Title Started Ended
Eagle Scout    
Arrow of Light   
Explorer Silver Award 1954 1958
Explorer Silver Award 1954 1958
Explorer Achievement Award 1977 1995
Exploring G.O.L.D. Award 1995 1998
Young American Award 1954  
Air Scout Ace Award 1940 1950
Explorer Ranger Award 1933 1951
Venturing Silver Award 1998  
Venturing Leadership Award   
Sea Scout or Sea Explorer Quartermaster Award    
Youth Religious Emblem    
Heroism Award19772013[3]
Honor Medal   
Medal of Merit   
William T. Hornaday Bronze or Silver Medal    
Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award   

Insignia available to adults

Insignia Title Started Ended
Silver Beaver Award    
Silver Antelope Award    
Silver Buffalo Award    
District Award of Merit    
Adult Religious Emblem    
Scouter's Key Award    
Scouter's Training Award    
James E. West Award    
George Meany AFL-CIO Award    
William T. Hornaday Gold Medal    
Whitney Young Service Award    
William D. Boyce Award    
Vale La Pena Award    
Asian American Award    
International Scouter Award    
Silver World Award    
Distinguished Commissioner Service Award    
Doctorate of Commissioner's Science Award    
Community Service Award    
Scoutmaster Award of Merit    
Varsity Scout Coach Award of Merit    
Venturing Advisor Award of Merit    
Scoutmaster Award of Merit   2001
BSA Alumni Award    
Philmont Training Center Master's Award    
Cubmaster Award   2012
Den Leader Coach Award   2012
Webelos Den Leader Award   2012
Cub Scout Den Leader Award    
Pack Trainer Award   2012
Tiger Cub Den Leader Award   2012
William H. Spurgeon III Award    
Sea Badge    
Professional Training Award    
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References

  1. "Guide to Awards and Insignia". Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Square Knot Insignia used by the Boy Scouts of America". 1 October 1999. Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  3. "Holding out for a hero: How the BSA honors lifesavers". January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
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