Starting early this year I have been in contact with Dunwoody Georgia about the Ducote family. They have eight brothers that are all Eagle Scouts. Since our involvement with Eagle Scouts is very active and has an increasing ammount of activity with new Vets becoming interested in the program, it was only natural that I should follow up on the story from the online version of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. I did! Over the past seven months I met online and became friends with a gentleman who is deeply involved with troop 434, the troop the Ducotes belong to. Al Tiede is my main man in Dunwoody. Between the two of us (He did the most)and help from the city council of Dunwoody and the local newspaper(the Crier)we put together that which culminated on the Fourth of July this year (2009).

On the Friday Evening we arrived we were guests at Al's home for a fantastic barbecue where we met and made friends with the Ducote Brother s& Mr. Ducote, Al & Tina Tiede, scout leaders and scouts from Troop 434. Nothing was spared in either the food or the friendliness of our hosts. We met Mr. Ducote Sr. who was extremely proud of his sons achievements. Three of the Ducotes have attended West Point and served in Wars in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. The youngest, Jeff, has his appointment for West Point. Others work or attend college at Marist College. PROUD AMERICANS, DAMNED RIGH!

Since the format was Eagle Scouts it was decided early that only those who had activly been a part of the program here would be invited by Al & myself. Not realizing the severity of work and dedication it takes to achieve that rank, the layperson could not respect them with the connotations therein. Several started but four finished, Pres. Clarence Dadswell, 2nd Vice Pres. Everett DeWitt, Treasurer Tina Crisp and me, Sec. Harold Macking.

A large parade (2.7 miles) started the day while the Medals and Certificates handed out by Chapter 14 KWVA became the end of the formal ceremonies. After that we were invited to the Tiede home for refreshments. Leaving the Americans of Dunwoody Sunday morning was not an easy task. The memories will be with us for a long time.

It was a GREAT July Fourth 2009
for KWVA Ch. 14, the Ducotees & Dunwoody Georgia.