Brace

Mr. Douglas G. Brace was recently identified as having received his Eagle Scout rank in Troop 33 in 1942. I therefore add his named to our Troop 33 Eagle Honor Roll as the 88^th Eagle Scout from our troop.

Mr. Bruce died on August 3, 2011 at the age of 86. His daughter, Marcia Bruce, asked that donations be made in his honor to his Boy Scout Troop #209 . But the Scoutmaster and Historian of that troop could not find his name in their records but with further searching were able to find he was a member of Troop 33. The series of emails below give a brief history of the searches that connected Mr. Brace with Troop 33.

Scoutmaster David Lanar

Scoutmaster

Troop 33

Takoma Park, MD

From: Jack [mailto:Namella[removed]]

Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 9:10 PM

To: dlanar[removed]

Subject: To Dr. Lanar from Jack Alleman, Eagle Advisor Troop 209 RE: Who sponsors Troop 33

Dr. Lanar,

Who sponsors Troop 33 and where is the sponsor located????? I am doing some research for a Ms. Marcia Brace, whose dad used to be a member for Troop 33 and earned Eagle while with your troop in about 1942.

Scouting, no limit to the fun!!!!!

Jack Alleman

Troop 209 Eagle Advisor

From: David Lanar & Susan Tripp [mailto:dlanar[removed]]

Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 10:22 PM

To: 'Jack'

Subject: RE: To Dr. Lanar from Jack Alleman, Eagle Advisor Troop 209 RE: Who sponsors Troop 33

Jack,

Something is funny here. About a week ago I got a call from a women, Nancy Long (?),who said her troop, 209, got a check for donations in the honor of Douglas Brace who was an Eagle scout in my troop, Troop 33. I checked my Eagle Scout list, which goes back to 1923 and we have no Eagle Scouts listed by that name. I assumed she had information that indicated Mr. Brace was from our troop and somehow his name had just gotten lost. Today I got in the mail the check from Troop 209 for $200 but all the information, cards and letters and addresses seemed to indicate that Mr. Brace was a member of Troop 209, not Troop 33.

Troop 33 is sponsored by the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church and has been since 1920. Do you have any other information that would indicate he was in Troop 209? If we cannot find out what troop Mr. Brace was in I suggest we write back to the two donor and ask if we could give the donated funds to Friends of Scouting, unless you have another idea.

Scoutmaster David Lanar

Scoutmaster

Troop 33

Takoma Park, MD

From: Jack [mailto:Namella[removed]]

Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 11:38 PM

To: 'David Lanar & Susan Tripp'

Subject: RE: To Dr. Lanar from Jack Alleman, Eagle Advisor Troop 209 RE: Who sponsors Troop 33 and...

David,

This is Jack Alleman. I am the Eagle Advisor of Troop 209. I was the SM at Troop 209 from 1992-2000. I still do many jobs for Troop 209. When we first got a donation on Mr. Brace s behalf, I started researching him. He is not on our list of Eagles which was generated by my wife and me from the NCAC microfiche files back in the 1990s.

At first we were thinking that Mr. Brace was one of our Eagles and we missed him from the NCAC files, but when I went to NCAC to try to get a verification, the lady at the NCAC front desk said that he was an Eagle (1942) and with Troop 33.

Mr. Brace lived on Richmond Avenue and that is closer to Troop 33 than Troop 209. Woodside UMC sponsors Troop 209. Where Woodside UMC is located now is further northwest than it was in 1950; however, Troop 33 was still closer to Richmond Avenue than the old Woodside UMC site. I would suggest that you keep the funds for Troop 33, give them to Friends of Scouting, or split it between Troop 33 and Troop 209. I think that we at Troop 209 would rather Troop 33 have the funds. It is your call.

My wife and I found that the first Charter of Troop 209 was in 1918. To our knowledge there has never been a break in years that Troop 209 has been chartered.

I am wondering if NCAC still has their microfiche files and the machinery to allow one to read the microfiche? Thank you for your email and the info. If I can be of further service to you or your Troop let me know.

Your Scouts probably use Ms. Louise Marsh for your District Area Eagle Coordinator. She works in the eastern part of Montgomery County. Doug Long and I also work in the eastern part of MC. Doug processes Eagle candidate in the Olney area and I process Eagle candidates along the Georgia Avenue corridor from Aspen Hill / Layhill area south to the DC line. If you need another District Area Eagle Coordinator to help your troop let me know. You have my email address and my telephone number is 301-587-9197. I live about ½ mile southeast of the GA Ave. and I-495 in Woodside Forest which is north of Dale Drive.

BTW, there will be a new Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (L->E) to use effective January 1, 2012 and a new Eagle Application. The new Eagle Application will only have minor prose changes. The L->F workbook will have major changes in procedure and format. I have also heard that maybe in the next year or so that the merit badge requirements for Eagle will change.

And another tid-bit is that Montgomery District will be split effective January 1, 2012 into three districts. You probably know this. So far I think two of the new districts will be Potomac and Central

The new districts and the new Eagle documents will surely make a change in our immediate future.

Scouting, no limit to the fun! (An expression coined at Troop 209)

Jack Alleman

Troop 209 Eagle Scout Advisor

District Area Eagle Coordinator (there are 7 of us)

From: David Lanar & Susan Tripp [mailto:dlanar[removed]]

Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 6:02 PM

To: 'Jack'

Subject: RE: To Dr. Lanar from Jack Alleman, Eagle Advisor Troop 209 RE: Who sponsors Troop 33 and...

Jack,

I just wanted to follow up with you the story of Mr. Brace being in Troop 33, Takoma Park. Coincidently, last spring one of our cub scout dads wanted to get some information about the history of Pack 33. He went to the district office and found microfiche of the Pack and the Troop s registrations going back to the 20 s and 30 s. He was lent the films by the district commissioner while he tried to find a reader, as the council no longer had a microfiche reader. Last May one of my ASM found an ad on eBay for one for sale close by in West Virginia where we just happened to be going camping the following week. He stopped and got not one, but two, for $10. Course he took it home and although did test it to see that it worked never got around to looking at our microfiche. So I asked him to take a look at the years 1935 – 45 and here is what he found:

In the 1940 registry there is a Douglas Brace of 719 Richmond Ave. Silver Spring, MD who was 14 years old, First Class, and had been a member for 2 full years. The records are otherwise incomplete, and so it is tough to trace him much beyond that entry. There was a John Brace (same address) in the 1941/42 roster.

Mr. Brace s daughter wrote me and said:

Dad (Doug) and Jack were the sons of Martha S. and Norman G. Brace. I don't think Jack ever became an Eagle. Jack was two years younger than Dad

As a John is often called Jack (I remember President John Kennedy was referred to as Jack by his brothers and thought that very odd). So all seems to fit.

I will add Douglas Brace to our Eagle Roll of Honor on our web page. This is important to use because at each Eagle Court of Honor we read the names of all Eagle Scouts from Troop 33. BTW, we added 5 new Eagles on Saturday night. Read about it in this month s Silver Spring Voice.

Thank you for getting us this bit of Troop 33 history.

Scoutmaster David Lanar

Scoutmaster

Troop 33

Takoma Park, MD

The following is correspondence between SM Lanar and Marcia Brace

From: bracem j[removed]

Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 4:09 PM

To: dlanar[removed]

Cc: Namella[removed]

Subject: Douglas G. Brace

Dr. Lanar,

It is with sadness that I report that my beloved Dad, Douglas G. Brace, passed away on August 3, 2011. He was 86 and had been in poor health for about a year.

Dad attained the rank of Eagle Scout in your troop in 1942, which the Scoutmaster of Troop #209, Jack, has relayed. I have mistakenly been directing memorials to #209 and I anticipate a few more will come in. While the mistake has been corrected, please bear with me.

Dad loved the Scouts and often relived his days camping at what was then known as Camp Shangri-La, and of course, today is known as Camp David.

Thanks to the Scouts, Dad was an avid life-long birder. One of the requirements for his Eagle rank was to identify local birds by their call alone. As I will shortly be putting together a memorial service for Dad, I am honoring him by playing bird calls in the background of the service in lieu of a regular processional and recessional.

Cordially,

Marcia Brace

From: David Lanar & Susan Tripp <dlanar[removed]>

To: bracemj[removed]

Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 8:54 PM

Subject: RE: Douglas G. Brace

Marcia,

Troop 209 has forwarded to me the donations made in your dad's name. I have asked the Scoutmaster of Troop 209 how he figured out your father was a member of Troop 33. We are an old troop, established in 1920, and have been pretty active for most of those 91 years. We have a list of many of the troop Eagle Scouts on our Troop web page www.bsa-troop33.net . Enter the website from that page, go to History on the left panel, then "Eagle Scouts of Troop 33". Your father's name is not on that list but if he can be verified as being in the troop I will certainly add him. We do have a microfiche of the troop roster going back many, many years so I will check that. Also, Hank Harman also go his Eagle in 1942. He was someone we meet just a year or so ago who did not get pinned cuz of the war so we had a ceremony for him. You can follow the link on his name to see a video of that. I will write Hank and see if he remembers your father.

Be assured that any donations will go to help scouts as your father wished.

Thank you very much. I will keep in touch.

Scoutmaster David Lanar

Scoutmaster

Troop 33

Takoma Park, MD

__________________________________________

From: Marcia Brace [mailto:bracemj[removed]]

Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 11:23 PM

To: David Lanar & Susan Tripp

Subject: Re: Douglas G. Brace

David,

Thanks for your note. I'll look through Dad's papers to see what else I can find. That will probably be at the end of the year, when I am next at his home. I do have a manual from about 1937 or 1938 and Dad's sash; both of which either my sister or I will keep. I have seen at least one photo of Dad and his younger brother, Jack, in their Boy Scout uniforms. If you wish, when I get around to duplicating that photo in several months, I can send you a copy as well. Dad (Doug) and Jack were the sons of Martha S. and Norman G. Brace. I don't think Jack ever became an Eagle. Jack was two years younger than Dad, and unfortunately, passed away some time ago. I do anticipate seeing both Jack's widow and daughter this coming weekend.

I attribute Dad's character to his formative years spent with the Scouts. He often relayed stories of playing in Sligo Creek Park when he was young. In particular, his best friend forward was a man named Chuck Phelan. They met in 5th grade, graduated Montgomery Blair together, and I believe, when to Penn State together. They both ended up as patent attorneys in New Jersey. I anticipate seeing Chuck this weekend at Dad's NJ memorial service so I'll ask him if he was a scout as well, and if so, which troop.

All of these leads me to ask two questions. Does the troop need anything? I ask as I may be in a position to gift the troop in a few months and um, am just wondering. Nothing extravagant, but since the Scouts did so much for Dad I'd like to see others get the experience as well. Secondly, while I currently live and work in Dallas, Texas, I am considering getting a transfer back to the DC area. That will be the 4th or 5th trip back. If so, if you need a volunteer, admittedly of the female variety, I may be interested.

I have been to the website. I assume the address listed there is where checks should be sent. Right?

Marcia

____________________________________________________________________

From: David Lanar & Susan Tripp <dlanar[removed]>

To: 'Marcia Brace' <bracemj[removed]>

Sent: Monday, November 7, 2011 4:58 PM

Subject: RE: Douglas G. Brace

Ms Brace,

I just wanted to follow up with you the story of your dad being in Troop 33, Takoma Park. Coincidently, last spring one of our cub scout dads wanted to get some information about the history of Pack 33. He went to the district office and found microfiche of the Pack and the Troop s registrations going back to the 20 s and 30 s. He was lent the films by the district commissioner while he tried to find a reader, as the council no longer had a microfiche reader. Last May one of my ASM found an ad on eBay for one for sale close by in West Virginia where we just happened to be going camping the following week. He stopped and got not one, but two, for $10. Of course he took them home and although did test them to see that they worked never got around to looking at our microfiche. So I asked him to take a look at the years 1935 – 45 and here is what he found:

You wrote me and said:

Dad (Doug) and Jack were the sons of Martha S. and Norman G. Brace. I don't think Jack ever became an Eagle. Jack was two years younger than Dad

As a John is often called Jack (I remember President John Kennedy was referred to as Jack by his brothers and thought that very odd). So all seems to fit. I will add Douglas Brace to our Eagle Roll of Honor on our web page http://www.bsa-troop33.net/history/eagle_scout_tribute.html . This is important to use because at each Eagle Court of Honor we read the names of all Eagle Scouts from Troop 33. BTW, we added 5 new Eagles on Saturday night and now have 87. I will add your father to the list as #88. If you have anything of your dad s that relates to his time in the troop that you would like to donate we do have a place for such mementoes.

As for your offer to help the troop I really appreciate that. We are not in the need of money as we raise about $6000 each year at our annual Pancake Supper which was two weeks ago. But if you end up living close by we could use more female adults as we are trying to set up a co-ed Venture patrol with boys and girls 15-20 years old.

Thank you for filling in this bit of Troop 33 history that would otherwise have been lost.

Sincerely,

Scoutmaster David Lanar

Scoutmaster

Troop 33

Takoma Park, MD

David,

That's right. Doug & John ("Jack") Brace were the sons of Martha & Norman Brace, 719 Richmond Avenue, Silver Spring. I found one of Dad's Boy Scout manuals with a copyright of 1938. Dad did attain the rank of Eagle probably about 1943, when he was 18. I don't think Jack was an Eagle, and while I did check with his daughter, I did not get a confirmation.

If and when I get back to DC, I'll give you a shout. I'd very much like to help out as the Scouts were so instrumental to Dad.

Thanks for everything,

Marcia