FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/20/21
Mark Napier
Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council, Inc
(210) 414-7357
Mark.Napier@Scouting.org
Flame lit in Bethlehem Comes to San Antonio
Peace Light of North America at McGimsey Scout Park
San Antonio, TX: The Peace Light, originating from the continuously burning candle in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the site of Jesus’ birth, arrived at the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council’s McGimsey Scout Park this past weekend.
Each year in late November, a child from Austria lights a lantern from the continuously burning candle in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the site of Jesus’ birth. The light, known as the Peace Light, begins with a child lighting a single lantern from the site then taken to Vienna, Austria, and ultimately to the United States with message of Peace. Scouting organizations then take the light to houses of worship, hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and places of public, cultural, and political importance – to anyone who appreciates the significance of the “gift”.
“It’s a lovely way to connect with the holiday,” says Mark Napier, Accountant and Peace Light Staff Advisor for the Alamo Area Council. “We are delighted to be able to share this special light with our neighbors and are encouraged that they may share it with others.”
The Peace Light Ceremony took place at the Chapel at McGimsey Scout Park at 10810 Wedgewood, San Antonio, TX, on Friday, December 17, and Saturday, December 18, 2021.
About Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council, Inc.: Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the Alamo Area Council serves a 13-county area imparting the Scouting program to over 11,000 youth and 1,400 volunteer adults in South Texas. The Boy Scouts of America continue to prepare young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, utilizing outdoor activity, citizenship, and fitness. The Alamo Area Council manages over 1,500 acres of outdoor adventure for boys and girls from 5-20 years of age at three premier camps – Bear Creek Scout Reservation, Mays Family Scout Ranch, and McGimsey Scout Park. Learn more at www.AlamoAreaBSA.org.
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The Medical Advisory Committee and the leadership of the Alamo Area BSA carefully considered the guidelines from Center for Disease Control, and state, county, and city officials. Ultimately, the health & safety of our Scouting members and staff is our biggest concern. The MAC continues to monitor the situation for any changes necessary in the future. For the most updated statement, please continue to check this page for Alamo Area BSA’s Response to COVID-19.
