O'Hare receives Lamb Award from Lutheran Church

A Knox County Scouter has been presented the Lamb Award by Faith Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Muskingum Valley Council, Scouting America for distinguished service to the church and youth.

On Scout Sunday, Feb. 8, Distinguished Eagle Scout and Council Commissioner Pierre “Frank” O’Hare, a resident of Howard, received the Lamb Award during the worship service at Faith Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon. O’Hare was nominated for the award by Bette Michey, a member of the church and a daughter of a former Scoutmaster, Sally Berger, Church Council President, Pastor Cody Blust and Jarod Smith, MVC Scout Executive.

The nomination was reviewed and approved by Programs of Religious Activities with Youth, more commonly known as P.R.A.Y., a not-for-profit national organization that administers a series of religious recognitions programs that may be used by agencies such as Scouting America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Camp Fire, American Heritage Girls, and other youth groups.

Pastor Blust conducted the special ceremony and presented the Lamb Award ribbon prior to the Sunday service in the sanctuary.

O’Hare is a Distinguished Eagle Scout Award recipient, the highest honor for Eagle Scouts. Since 1910, less than 3,000 Eagle Scouts have been awarded the DESA. At age 74, O’Hare can say his life has never been without a Scouting presence since he became a Cub Scout in 1959.

The Lamb Award is given to Lutheran adults for their distinguished service in fostering the spiritual growth of youth through church and National Lutheran Association on Scouting youth serving agency programs, and to increase the use and quality of the civic agency programs in Lutheran congregations as a part of their youth ministries.

A variety of religious emblems programs are used by Scouting America to encourage youth to learn about their faith and to recognize adults who provide significant service to youth in a religious environment. These religious programs are created, administered, and awarded by the various religious groups, not Scouting America, but each program must be recognized by the organization.

The first religious recognition program for Scouts began in 1926 when the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles began the Ad Altare Dei for altar boys who were Scouts. The program was expanded nationally in 1939 and Scouting America approved the medal for uniform wear.

The first Protestant religious emblem program was established in 1943 by the Lutheran church as Pro Deo Et Patria. The Jewish Ner Tamid program began in 1944 and the God and Country program used by several Protestant denominations followed in 1945. As of 2007 there are over 35 religious groups represented by over 75 recognized emblems.

In the letter nominating O’Hare for the Lamb Award, Mishey stated, “As a lifetime Lutheran, I strongly recommend Pierre “Frank” O’Hare, for the Lamb Award as an exceptional candidate who possesses all the qualities, experience, and requirements.”