Boy Scout Logo PNG
There used to be arguments concerning the meaning of the spear-head Boy Scout logo. Critics called it an emblem of bloodshed. What does it symbolize in truth?
The logo of one of the largest youth organizations in the world is full of symbolism. There is nothing incidental in it. Even the smallest element has a hidden meaning.
Meaning and history
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was founded in Chicago on February 8, 1910, by William Boyce. However, the scouting movement itself did not originate in America, but in England, and three years earlier, in 1907, when Colonel Baden Powell organized the first scout camp on Lake Brownsea and wrote the book “Scouting for Boys”. The colonel was convinced that young Englishmen needed more rigorous hardening, physical training, and independence skills.
In 1916, the organization of the Boy Scouts of America was recognized nationwide. This was the result of the Boy Scouts’ socially beneficial and diverse activities in all regions and states of the country. Along with official recognition, the Boy Scouts received their own charter, which set out the goals and objectives of the movement and gave its members the right to wear a special kind of uniform. At that time, the first versions of the organization’s logo also appeared.
The emblem of the Scout organization has undergone several revisions over the years of its existence. Each time new features appeared but the main element remained the same ‒ a fleur-de-lis which is a stylized lily. One of its petals represents Service to Others, the second one is duty to God, and the third one is obedience to the Scout Law. These are the three promises new Scouts make when joining the organization.
Old Logo
The version of the Boy Scouts logo introduced in 1920 by Baden-Powell was red and yellow. It included the fleur-de-lis and the wordmark “Boy Scouts” below it. Later two five-pointed stars were added to the symbol to represent knowledge and truth. Their ten points stand for the ten Scout laws.
New Logo
The newest version of the Boy Scouts organization’s visual identity is executed in a fresh and patriotic color palette, composed of blue, red, and white. The main elements, such as the Eagle and the Fleur-de-Lys remained in their places but were redrawn in more laconic and modern strokes with minimum details.
Symbol of 1939
The symbol of 1939 was in the form of a round badge. The fleur-de-lis was silver, and the background was purple. There were the names of the five continents around the boarder within the frame.
Emblem
The final design of the Boy Scout logo has been in use since 1955. It features a rope encircling the fleur-de-lis and tied in a knot at the bottom. The rope and the “bond” that ties the petals together symbolize the tight-knit family of Scouting.
The white color in the emblem signifies purity, while the meaning of royal purple is leadership and service.
