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Martin Luther King Jr., the American civil rights hero whose life we celebrate every year around this time, was a Boy Scout.
Just typing that gives me chills. It’s a fact that should make Scouts everywhere remarkably proud.
I had read rumors online claiming MLK was a Boy Scout, but this week I got confirmation: From age 11 to age 13, King was registered as a member of Troop 151 in Atlanta.
The handwritten troop charter renewal forms include the name of King’s father, Martin Luther King Sr., who was the troop’s chartered organization representative.
The troop met at Ebenezer Baptist Church, now part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Both King men served as pastors there.
It is pleasing to know Scouting is still alive and well at Ebenezer today. Troop and Pack 213 meet there every other Sunday.
Those young Scouts must feel so proud to meet at the same spot where one of our nation’s greatest heroes once donned the Boy Scout uniform.