Vigil Honor

   The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for service to lodge, council and Scouting. The Vigil Honor was established in 1915 when OA Founder, E. Urner Goodman became the first Vigil Honor member.

   The Vigil Honor isa high mark of distinction and recognition is reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position or office to one or more of the following: their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting or their Scout Camp. Tenure in the Order of the Arrow is not reason enought for a Vigil Honor nomination.

   Membership cannot be won by a person's conscious endeavor. It comes as recognition of unselfish leadership in service. This fact should be given careful consideration in the selection of candidates for membership. The Vigil Honor members are selected and on the maintenance of high ideals of service to others for which the Vigil Honor has always been known.

   Any member of the Order of the Arrow registered in Scouting and in good standing in a regularly chartered lodge is eligible for recommendation to the National Order of the Arrow Committee for elevation to the Vigil Honor, provided that, at the time of recommendation, the individual has been a Brotherhood member for a minimum of 2 years. Because the Order of the Arrow is primarily  an organization for youth, it is suggested that, in recommending candidates for the Vigil Honor, preference be given to those who became members of the Order of the Arrow as a youth rather than those who were inducted into the Order as an adult volunteer or professional Scouters. The National Order of the Arrow Committee has established a policy which requires that at least 50% of a lodge's nominations must be for candidates younger than 21 years of age. Posthumous Vigil Honor candidates are not accepted.

   Annually each lodge is to submit nominations in accordance with a quota that is established on the basis of total lodge membership, as reported on its latest charter renewal application, which equates to 10 maximum candidates for up to 499 members with additional candidates at the ration of one for every 50 members beyond 499 total lodge members. Vigil Honor candidates are reviewed by the individual lodge's Vigil Honor committee and are selected by voting limited to only Arrowmen under age 21, as in all OA matters. Recommended candidates, after lodge selection, can become Vigil Honor members of the Order only with the written approval of the National Order of the Arrow Committee.

Criterions to call a Candidate to their Vigil

From the OA Handbook:

   "Any member of the Order of the Arrow registered in Scouting and in good standing (dues paid) in a regularly chartered lodge is eligible for recommendation to the National Order of the Arrow Committee for elevation to the Vigil Honor, provided that, at the time of recommendation, the individual has been a Brotherhood member for a minimum of two years.  Because the Order of the Arrow is primarily an organization for youth, it is suggested that, in recommending candidates for the Vigil Honor, preference be given to those who became members of the order as Scouts rather than to those who were inducted into the order as adult's volunteers or professional Scouts.

   Arrowmen don't need to make enormous sacrifices or time, money, or their whole social life, but the willingness to sacrifice should be there. It is the quiet, sometimes unsuspecting person that gets the Vigil, because he has, in his own silent and efficient way, given the sacrifice necessary to do an exceoptional job beyond his immediate responsibilities.

   The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition that is reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions  beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position or office to one or more of the following: their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting or their Scoout Camp.

   To help in identifying those to be called, these definitions for the key phrases above may help.

    RECOGNITION - Remember that the Vigil Honor membership is not earned. You become recognized by your dedication, exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest. A Vigil Honor member, if he truly is worthy of the Honor in the first place, will definitely be five time more worthy of his Vigil membership after he receives it. He does not sit back or fade away saying, "Well, I finally got it - my Vigil." Why? Because he did not try to earn it, it came as a tokem for what he was already doing. He was recognized for his dedication, exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest.

   RESERVED - Remember that the Vigil Honor membership is not a handout. The Vigil Honor should never be given to someone because "I'd like to see them have Vigil". The Eagale Award can be earned, but the Vigil Honor is bestowed. We should never make the mistake of giving the Vigil Honor to someone to elevate his status, because, when that is done, instead of elevating that person's status, we have lowered the Vigil Honor. When considering Vigil candidates, you should ask, "Has this candidate truly exhibited the qualities of the Vigil Honor?" If not, "Will he exhibit those qualities of the Vigil Honor if he becomes Vigil?"

   UNSELFISH INTEREST - When considering Vigil candidates, their interest in the OA should be diagnosed. Why are they active? Why do they want to do this or that? What do they get out of it that makes them do more? People who hold lodge offices, participate in ceremonial teams, dance, or just participate, have an interest in the OA, otherwise they would be inactive. But when considering candidates for the Vigil, their ulterior motives should be questioned. Does he serve as a chapter officer because his OA buddies have been officers? Or is it because he sees that the Order of the Arrow is a program, which officers' service, and he wants to improve that service? Is he an active member because he likes Indian dancing? Or is it because he sees that Indian dancing can be a means fo promoting the OA, serving the community and perpetuating the Indian culture. 

   BY REASON OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE - Remember that all OA members are expected to give service. We should not ask whether the Vigil candidate has given service, but whether the service rendered has been exceptional. When a member becomes Brotherhood, his obligations entail dedication and service to the lodge. He is expected to fulfill his obligations. Therefore, regular service to the lodge is not a criterion for giving the Vigil Honor. There is a unique situation in the Order of the Arrow. When you live up to your obligation as a Scout, you may be elected into the OA. When you live up to your Ordeal obligation, you may go on and get Brotherhood. But this is not the case with the Vigil, because you do not earn it, like the Ordeal or Botherhood member. You must live the Vigil Honor standard and obligations, as put forth in the Vigil Honor cermony, before you can be recognized by its high distinction.

   DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTIONS - Many people contribute ideas, ways and means of doing things, time and money to the OA. The Vigil Honor candidate should be analyzed as to whether he made contributions that are not just okay, but contributions on which he has spent a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice. These contributions require his dedication and self-denial. This is what makes a contribution "distinguished." The same rule of exceptional service applies distinguished contributions; Arrowmen are expected to do service and contribute, but it must be distinguished and exceptional to qualify for the Vigil Honor.

      As you consider nominating brothers to call to their Vigil, remember that the Order of the Arrow was set up as an aid to Scouting, and not unto itself. Many people sometimes have the impression that if a member does not make distinguished contributions to the OA, he is not to be considered for the Vigil. Someone may be an Arrowman who has no great service rendered to the OA, but he may have rendered great and worthy service to Scouting on a district or council level, or to a Scout camp.

       Vigil Nomination form (PDF)

Comments or Questions, Please e-mail us