Boy Scouts of America

EAGLE & SHIELD ON FLEUR-DE-LIS (BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA) - A primary symbol of the Boy Scouts of America is the Fleur-de-Lis (pictured above) because of what it stands for and how prevalent it is within other Scouting artifacts such as rank patches.  This trefoil flower has been used throughout history, appearing on French shields and such.  The crest is the “Fleur-de-Lis”, a lily, the emblem of peace and purity.  It symbolizes that a Scout can always point himself in the best direction in life. The three petals stand for the three points of the Scout Oath: Duty to God and Country, Duty to Others, and Duty to Self. The two stars stand for truth and knowledge. The Eagle stands for the freedom of the United States. The shield on the Eagle represents a Scout’s readiness to defend that freedom. The scroll is the smile on a Scout’s face as he does a good turn. The knot reminds a Scout to “Do a Good Turn Daily”.  As you can see, the Fleur-de-Lis effectively encompasses the values of the BSA. From a young age, every scout must understand the meaning of this special flower.