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Tuesday, July 28, 2015

A life worth remembering

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

On Saturday, the Barry County Museum played host to a special tribute to the late Charles Vaughan. The event attracted a great crowd of all ages who gathered together to honor a man who had such a positive impact on so many young men in his role as scoutmaster of Cassville Boy Scout Troop 76. A highlight of the tribute was hearing remarks from three of Vaughan's first four Eagle Scouts - John Babb, Bobby Reams and Gary Chaney - and listening to Charles' son, Steven Vaughan, recite a humorous essay he had written 26 years ago for the 50th anniversary of Cassville's Troop 76 that offered one view of a typical Scout camping trip led by Charlie.

The tribute began with current members of Troop 76 leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Boy Scout Pledge and the Boy Scout Oath. Several times during the tribute, it was mentioned that Charles Vaughan led by example and taught the young men he guided how to live out the pledges and oaths they memorized. It was this type of teaching that made a real difference in so many lives and it's men like Charles Vaughan, and women like Joyce Vaughan, we should all hope to emulate.

Cassville Mayor Tracy Holle concluded Saturday's tribute by reading an essay written by George Carlin. I was surprised that the comedian's words rang so true and have stuck with me since Saturday. As a result, I asked Mayor Holle to drop off a copy of the message so I could include it below for our readers.









"Remember to give a warm hug to to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.


"Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak. And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

On Saturday, the life of a special man was honored and many great times were relived. Both Charles and Joyce Vaughan were citizens who lived life fully and didn't miss an opportunity to teach a life lesson or make life a little better for those God put in their care. They seemed to know the secret of a fulfilling life - a life where success is measured by relationships instead of riches, and their way of living sure made a positive impact on the Cassville community.