The Theodore Roosevelt Council shoulder patch, worn on the shoulder of every Cub and Boy Scout in Nassau County in honor of our environmental activist President. “Dee-Lighted To Be Here” exclaimed Teddy Roosevelt to his rapt young listeners of Garden City’s Cub Scout Pack 55.

“Bully For You, Mr. President,” replied the boys, who had gathered at a recent Pack Night in the Stratford Elementary School auditorium to learn more about the life and legacy of our 26th President. Smiling on stage, was Roosevelt’s living alter-ego, the renowned T.R. actor, historian and impersonator James Foote, whose portrayal of Long Island’s most famous resident have taken him from the History Channel to the White House.

Cub Pack 55 is part of Nassau County’s Theodore Roosevelt Council, which - like its historic namesake - uses the slogan, “Bully!” as its unilateral congratulatory message. This past summer, Cub Pack 55 scouts took on a special reading assignment about the inspirational former New York Governor, President and Spanish-American War hero, who visited Garden City and Mineola often from his home in Oyster Bay.

Earlier in the day, following a visit to the County Executive, seven year old Cub Pack 55 Scout twins Michael, left, and Joseph Bereswill, posed with a statue of their favorite President in front of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building in Mineola. Mr. Foote, who dresses, talks and walks like America’s youngest President., enthralled his audience with verbatim Roosevelt speeches, slogans and anecdotes - delivered in T.R.’s hearty, enthusiastic voice and cadence. Telling the scouts about Teddy Roosevelt’s love of the outdoors and how he established our national parks system, he said that T.R. admired scouting and was an inspiration to boy scouts from all across the U.S. Then, using the former President’s own words, he bellowed, “Do the best you can with what you have where you are.... when it’s a question of right and wrong, never be neutral!”

Teddy Roosevelt historian/actor James Foote, tells a group of Cub Pack 55 scouts, from left, Frankie McLaughlin, Joseph Bereswill, Michael Bereswill and Steven Onos, all second graders from Den 8, about how the Teddy Bear got its name. Because of their summer reading exercise, tours of the former Presidential estate and museum at Sagamore Hill and special interest in the President, many of the scouts possessed in-depth knowledge of the subject. As such, following Mr. Foote’s wonderful presentation, they pleased the historian with a lengthy, insightful, question and answer session. Then, they gave him a resounding, “Bully” as he left for home.

The Teddy Roosevelt learning experience is just one of many “hands on” educational and entertainment programs hosted by Cub Pack 55 throughout the year for its scouts. Youngsters and their parents wanting information on how to join Pack 55 and participate in the ongoing fun activities, can contact Kim DeMaro at 741-4760.