I am the Eagle.
 
Since the beginning of time, man has used my brothers and I as symbol of royalty, power, victory, and valor.  My strength and courage have inspired men through the ages.
 
Ancient man looked upon me as enemy of serpents, of good versus evil.
 
In the Assyrian myths, I was a symbol of storms and lightning.
In India and Babylon I was the symbol of fire, of wind and storms.
 
In the golden age of Greece, I was a symbol of victory and supreme energy.  The Greeks represented me with wings out- stretched holding a serpent in my claws.  Thus, I represented the triumph of good over evil.
 
The Romans saw me as the symbol of victory.  As the Romans legions conquered the world, they marched under the standard of the eagle, with outstretched wings.  The silver eagle was the symbol of the republic and the Roman Empire used the golden eagle as its symbol.  I became the personal emblem of the Caesars, representing supreme authority.
 
The rise of Christianity brought me still more honor.  To the early Christians, the eagle was the symbol of ascension.  This was due to the strong flight of the eagle with its gaze fixed on the sun.  In early icons I was best known as the symbol of St. John the Evangelist.
 
In the Middle Ages, I became the symbol of Germany.  And, as falconry flourished as a sport in Europe, only kings were allowed to hunt with and eagle.  In the nineteenth century, French troops under Napoleon conquered Europe under the symbol of the eagle.  Many French soldiers gave their lives to protect the golden eagle, which supported the French flag on the battleground
 
On June 20, 1782, I became the symbol of a new country.  Because of my courage and beauty, I was chosen to symbolize the new United States of America.  The eagle became a prominent feature of the seal of state of the new republic.
 
From this early beginning, I have been used in many ways to symbolize the ideas of this country.  Several states have the eagle on their state flag.  You can find me on the coins of America from the beginning to the present day.
 
I have a prominent place in America as in ancient Rome as symbol of power and authority.  The emblems of the President, vice-president, several members of the President’s Cabinet, and most of the branches of the armed forces center on the eagle. 
 
From the Assyrians to the symbol of the Caesars to the emblem of this country, it was thus fitting that the eagle should have a part in the most momentous achievement of man.  The Apollo 11 crew chose Eagle as the name for the lunar module, which was to make history.  And with the words of Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong – “Houston, Tranquility base here.  The Eagle has landed”, Man was on the moon.
 
In 1911, following traditions as old as man himself, the Boy Scouts of America chose the eagle to symbolize the very highest in achievement.  Through all history, I have been the symbol of man’s best; now the eagle is the symbol of Scouting’s best.
 
I am the Eagle.