The TEXAS Badge

THE TEXAS BADGE

By Jim Szpakowski

QUALIFICATIONS:

Be an active Cub Scout or Webelos Scout registered in a Pack in Texas (Tiger Cubs and adults are not eligible).

STATE SYMBOLS:

Name the state bird, state flower, and state motto. (see Texas Flag)

Sing or recite the words of "Texas, Our Texas".

STATE HISTORY:

Draw the first six flags of Texas. Tell something important that happened when Texas was under each flag. (see Six Texas Flags)

Name a famous Texan. Tell why the person is famous, and what you like or dislike about him or her. (see Texans)

Visit an historic place in Texas. Tell about the important events which happened there. (see Attractions)

STATE CULTURE:

Read a story about any Texas subject (fiction or non-fiction). Tell what you learned from the story. (see Library Books at Fort Bend ISD schools

Find out about the Indians who lived near your community at any time. Tell about some of their history and customs.

If you have already done any of these requirements for another Cub Scout or Webelos Scout award, you must do something different for the Texas Badge. For example, if you visited an historical place for another Cub Scout or Webelos Scout award, you should visit a different historical place for the Texas Badge.
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Texas, Our Texas
Texas, Our Texas is the Texas state song. It was not written by a native Texan, but by an Englishman, William J. Marsh. He was living in Fort Worth at a the time he wrote the music and, with native Texan Gladys Yoakum Wright, the words. Their combined efforts won a statewide contest sponsored by the Legislature in 1929 to find an original state song.

The lyrics we sing today are not those originally penned. The line "Biggest and grandest, withstanding every test" was changed by necessity in 1959 when Alaska entered the Union, to "Boldest and grandest, withstanding every test". Anyway, here are the words, try to memorize the first verse and the chorus:

Verse 1
Texas our Texas! All hail the mighty State!
Texas our Texas! So wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, Withstanding every test
O Empire wide and glorious, You stand supremely blest.

Chorus
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

Verse 2
Texas, O Texas! Your freeborn single star
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far.
Emblem of Freedom! It sets our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

Verse 3
Texas, dear Texas! From tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor your star of destiny!
Mother of Heroes! We come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance Our Faith Our Love for you.

What to hear the music ?

Indians
Indian days. When the first Europeans arrived, about 30,000 Indians lived in what is now Texas. The largest group was the Caddo Indians, in the eastern part of the region. These Indians lived in permanent homes and were farmers. Some of the Caddo (296 K image ) tribes, including the Nacogdoches, Nasoni, and Neche, formed a league called the Hasinai Confederacy. The Arkokisa, Attacapa (236 K image), Karankawa, and other smaller tribes lived along the coast. The Coahuiltecan Indians occupied south Texas. Warlike Lipan Apache lived on the Edwards Plateau in the west.Comanche and Tonkawa Indians roamed the Rolling Plains and the Prairie Plains. See Texas Indians for more info