All Programs Uniform Left Side Unit Veteran Bar

With many units conducting research to see just how old they are, some are asking about some sort of uniform recognition for the longivity of the unit. There has been such an item since 1952.

In 1952, the Boy Scouts of America introduced the first of two small bars. The first bar, an embrordered silver bar, was to be worn immediately above the unit number and below the state arc on the left shoulder. Units which has been certified by the local Council as been continuously registered for 25 straight years or more received permission to order the bar and to have all members -- current and future members -- to wear the bar.

A special flag item was also designed to go onto the flag; and special decals were affixed to the unit's charter by the National office to certify this accomphishment.

In 1960, the BSA followed the silver bar up with a gold bar, to symbolize 50 straight years or more of continuous registration. Those units which received the silver bar and later qualified for the gold bar, removed the silver and replaced it with the gold bar.

Again, a special emblem for the unit flag was also made available along with the special decals.

As part of the insignia revision in 1973 in which all insignia were identified in some reason, the year (25 or 50) were embrordered in black on the bar. Also in 1973, the BSA revised the requirement for wearing the veteran unit bar and stated that all certifications would be done by the BSA's Registration Service because of the number of local Councils which have been created or merged in the years between 1960 and 1973.

In 1985, the BSA introduced a red bar with silver "75" lettering centered on for those units which attained 75 years or more of continuous registration. For some reason, the decals went away for a few years; they returned to the charter certificate in the first part of 1997.

In 2000, the BSA's Uniform and Insignia Committee decided that units between 50 and 80 would also qualify for recognition. They chose to make ALL of the bars between from 55 to 95 except for the 75 year bar in bronze with black or green lettering.

In 2010, the BSA introduced a special "100" veteran bar for wear by those few units chartered for 100 or more years.

When the BSA returned to unit numbers sewn together as one piece, an option was provided for the addition of a veteran bar by those units which qualified.

An example of a unit number and veteran bar embrordered together.

The veteran bar may be worn by ALL UNIT MEMBERS -- not just those who were registered at the time of the unit's 25, 50, 75, 100 or other annversary. The all one-piece unit numbers and veteran's bar may be made with either the traditional red and white insignia as shown above; or with the olive and tan insignia shown below.

An example of a unit number and veteran bar embrordered together with the current Boy Scout color scheme.

Additionally in 2010, the BSA created a special bar to recognize those who are "charter members" (members registered with a brand new unit for the FIRST TIME) of new Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturing and Sea Scouting units. More information on this bar may be found at this location.

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