David Montgomery presented department’s Eagle Scout Challenge Coin for being an ambassador for Scouting.
Legionnaire Garry Tanner has been involved in Scouting for decades, from being involved in its Explorer Program himself as a youth, to now serving as The American Legion Department of Michigan’s Scouting chairman. He also volunteers at the Michigan Crossroads Council in various capacities, is a Scoutmaster and has two sons who are Eagle Scouts.
So, when the Council chose to honor Eagle Scout and Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery with its North Star Award at its On My Honor Gala, Tanner wanted to make sure the NFL standout also got some recognition from The American Legion.
On Oct. 7, Tanner presented Montgomery with the Department of Michigan Eagle Scout Challenge Coin. He said he learned that Montgomery – who teams with Jahmyr Gibbs to form Detroit’s "Sonic and Knuckles" duo – was a Scout when the player flashed the Scouting sign after scoring a touchdown.
The Department of Michigan took over as presenting sponsor of the gala a few years ago; the Legion’s Scouting Challenge Coin is presented at the gala to each year’s group of Eagle Scouts. At the gala, the North Star Award is presented to a person not currently enrolled in scouting for their service to Scouting. Montgomery earned his Eagle Scout in 2014 and became a Scouting Ambassador a year ago.
“At one of his games he was walking into the stadium rocking his merit badge sash,” said Tanner, a member of American Legion Post 364 in Fort Dearborn. “I thought that was really cool because a lot of kids – even though the program’s great – they still get teased by their friends a lot: ‘Oh, you’re wearing a Scouting uniform, blah, blah, blah.’ Montgomery (wearing the sash) makes it OK for them to rock theirs.
“When I heard they were going to do this North Star Award … I said, ‘I would really like to do just a quick (presentation) and make sure David Montgomery had one of our coins. And that not only does the Scouting program recognize what a great guy he is, but all of the veterans in the Department of Michigan and the Legion Family recognize him as that outstanding role model.”
Tanner got a chance to talk with Montgomery during the coin presentation. “I told him, ‘I really appreciate how much you make us proud on the field, but also through the life choice you made off the field and for being such a great ambassador and role model for our youth, and especially our Scouts,’” Tanner said. “When I showed him the coin, he was like, “That’s really cool’ and right away handed it off to a security guy to keep track of it for him.
“He was such a class-act guy. We brought him through the backdoor to make it easier and less of a circus when he walked in the door. As soon as he walked in, there were Scouts in there off to the side. The first thing he did was go over and spend five minutes with them before he talked to anybody else. He made sure that he gave the attention and time to the Scouts over the adults that were there.”
Tanner said its nice to see someone as gifted as Montgomery achieve Eagle Scout continue to embrace Scouting.
“He could have easily took the easy way out. But he chose the hard path … the one that was going to challenge him,” Tanner said. “I think having all of that experience as an Eagle Scout and program development to receive going through that program has contributed to his worth ethic on the field and off the field.
“He’s such a humble guy and such a kind person. He really is a great ambassador for us for Scouting.”
- Scouting