Youth Patriotism Awards Heritage Award GOLD (Youth 11-18)

Requirements: To earn the Youth Patriotism Award � Heritage GOLD Medal a youth must complete ALL of the following: Declaration of Independence Tell when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Memorize the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence. Recite it for your counselor. Discuss what it means to you. Discuss with your counselor how the United States would be different without the Declaration of Independence. Discuss how the Declaration of Independence has influenced other countries around the world. Write a short story (at least 500 words) from the point of view of a person that signed the Declaration of Independence. Describe the atmosphere, surroundings, and possible discussions that would have been occurring at the time. The Constitution of the United States Tell when the Constitution of the United States was signed. Recite from memory the Preamble of the United States Constitution. Discuss what it means to you. Have your counselor tell you what it means to them. Describe the Bill of Rights. List them. Choose one of the Bill of Rights. Research how that right is still in force today and how it applies to our modern life. Flag of the United States What colors does the United States flag have? Find out what the parts of the flag are called. Draw a picture of the flag and correctly label the parts. How many stars are on the blue rectangle (canton) today? How many stars were on the flag back when our country first started? What do the stars represent? How many stripes are there on the United States flag? What color are the stripes? What do the stripes symbolize? List at least 5 items from the Flag Code that are in place to show respect for the flag. Describe the changes to the United States flag in the period of 1795 to 1818. What changes were made during this period that was unique to the history of the United States flag? Pledge of Allegiance Recite it and explain what it means. When was the Pledge of Allegiance written? Describe what changes have been made to the Pledge since it was adopted. Lead a group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Make a list of the original thirteen states of the United States of America and point them out on a map. With your counselor�s approval, choose a speech of national importance speaking to heritage or history. Find out about the author and the time/situation in which it was given. Explain the importance of the speech at the time it was given. Tell how it applies to all Americans. Describe what in the speech is significant to you and tell why. Detail for your counselor the history of the United States capital. Be able to list cities that the capital was in, why it moved, and any other facts that you have discovered in your research.

Electives: In addition to the above Requirements, you must also complete some electives. These electives can come from any of the below. Electives from the following list only count once (even if you complete an elective multiple times). Once the number of electives needed for the medal is complete, your counselor can place an order for the medal. Completing additional electives enables you to earn Elective Stars that are placed on the ribbon of the medal. Award Number of Electives Needed Gold Medal 6 Gold Medal and 1 Gold star 12 Gold Medal and 2 Gold stars 18 Gold Medal and 3 Gold stars 24 Visit and Experience: Visit a place that is listed as a National Historic Landmark or that is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Tell your counselor what made this location historic. What did you find interesting about it? Tour your Town Hall or other local government building. Tell your counselor what you learned about this location, its function, and its history. Tour your state capitol building. Tell your counselor what you learned about the capitol, its function, and its history. Tour the United States Capitol building. Tell your counselor what you learned about the capitol, its function, and its history. Visit a historic battlefield. Explain to your counselor what event occurred at the site. Who were the opposing sides? What was the cause of the conflict? Visit a monument in your local community. Who is it dedicated to? What role did the person(s) play in the history of our nation and/or your community? Attend a period re-enactment. Describe how your life would be different if you lived during that time. Visit a historic trail in your area. Visit Historic Williamsburg/Yorktown/Jamestown, VA. Detail for your counselor what events occurred at the site. Learn More: Select an individual from American history. Find out about the person�s accomplishment and detail their impact in the history of America. Using the internet (with parent or guardian�s permission), the library, or other resources, research and then tell the story of the Liberty Bell to your counselor. Using the internet (with parent or guardian�s permission), the library, or other resources, find other versions of flags that were used to represent the United States. Draw a picture of at least two different versions or print two different versions out and then explain the differences to your counselor. Choose one from the "Committee of Five", consisting of John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut, drafters of the Declaration of Independence . Write down or discuss with an adult all you know about the person you chose. Using any resources, find out 5 new interesting facts about the man you chose. Learn about the National Motto. Describe the adoption and tell of any changes since its adoption and explain how it continues to influence Americans today. Learn about the National Seal. Describe the adoption and tell of any changes since its adoption and explain how it continues to influence Americans today. Choose a national monument that interests you. Using books, brochures, the Internet (with permission), and other resources find out more about the monument. When was it built? Why? Tell your counselor what you learned and explain why the monument is important to this country�s citizens. Read two books that describe the founding of the United States. Discuss with your counselor the challenges and risks that the founding fathers took to establish our country. With your counselor�s approval, choose and organization that has promoted some type of positive change in American Society. Find out why this organization believed that change was necessary and how it accomplished the change. Pick an American symbol and research its history. Describe the history to our counselor. Research an event of historical importance that took place in or near your area. If possible, visit the place. Tell your counselor about the event and how it affected local history. Learn by Doing: Listen to recordings of popular songs from various periods of American history. Describe how they reflected the happenings of the time. Choose one of the songs and write alternate lyrics that capture the spirit of the song for our times. Write with a quill. Write the Preamble of the United States Constitution and then sign your name with a quill as the Founding Fathers did. Write five poems about: American Heritage, What it Means to be an American, How the Founding Fathers changed the world, and/or What America Means to Me Write a short story (at least 500 words) about any event in United States history. Learn the first verse and another verse of �The Star Spangled Banner�. Sing/recite the verses and then tell your counselor what events inspired the song and who wrote it. Watch two movies and/or live performance set in the time of the United States founding. Use resources to check the accuracy of the events depicted. Describe any errors. Following safe fire practices and with the help of a responsible adult, cook a meal over an open fire. Attempt to include foods that would be available during pioneer times.