Thursday, March 2, 2023
I’m sorry to hear of Mr. Thorn’s passing but I am glad that I was able to reconnect with him on Facebook about two years ago. And I enjoy Mrs. Thorn’s posted/re-posts. I first met Mr. Thorn in 1972 when Mark joined Troop 79. He was a Troop committee member (along with my Dad) back then. His “catch phrase” was “Sound like fun.” We made fun of that - we made fun of a lot of stuff that is cringey now. He built a portable propane-heated hot water heater for troop camping - we would go to camporees and have all these cool gadgets. The comrade that the adult leaders had was great and very important to my Dad. Several years ago my family rented an Airbnb in Lake City, MN and I walked down the road to Camp Hok -Sa-La (now a city park) and wandered around. I remembered the time I got out of my tent at night and relieved myself outside the tent door. Mr. Thorn was still up. He took me aside and gently asked me if I was setting a good example for the younger scouts, who looked up to me as SPL. That was a lesson in quiet leadership I have kept with me all my life and tried to pass down to my four boys. I had the great privilege of being a Cubmaster and adult Scout leader for my two younger boys (both Eagles). I am keenly aware now of how important and impactful my Scout leaders were to my life (and indirectly, to my sons and their evolving leadership styles as one of them prepares to be an officer in the Fleet). Thank you John, for your service to youth and to our Country. And thank you Sharon - my wife now understands what being the spouse of a Scout leader involves. And thank you to all the adult leaders of Troop 79 that cannot know how important and impactful their guiding hand has been - Elton Crowe, Ed Hucker, Mike Wenzel, Benny Kreye, Jack Robinson, Dick Farr, and Bert Wuolo (and their spouses). The way we honor them is to pick up their load and care on.
