Merritt Udell Lamb

Merritt Udell Lamb (April 4, 1892 – June 28, 1918) was the founder of scouting in West Michigan and the 13th Eagle Scout in the United States. Lamb was killed in action during the battle of Juvigny, France, on August 28, 1918. Lamb is currently buried in his hometown of Rockford, Michigan.

Scouting career As a boy Merritt joined the Boy's Brigade; By age 13 Merritt became captain of the brigade, and by age 18 Merritt convinced the members of his Brigade to disband and reform as a troop in the newly created Boy Scouts of America. By November 1910 the first unit in West Michigan, "Rockford Troop 1," was formed with Merritt Lamb as the first scoutmaster. A little less than a year after forming Rockford Troop 1, Merritt Lamb moved to Muskegon, Michigan and started Muskegon Troop 1; again he was the scoutmaster. As time went on and more units formed Merritt moved up in the ranks, becoming Muskegon's first Scout Commissioner, and eventually Muskegon's First Scout executive. Merritt would also move on to be a member of Boy Scouts of America National Council.

In the Fall of 1913 Merritt Lamb achieved Scouting's highest honor and became an Eagle Scout. Merritt Lamb's attainment of the Eagle Scout rank was the 13th in the nation. On September 6, 1916, Merritt saved the life of Loyal Plough when he was caught in an undertow during a Troop 1 Scout Outing. Merritt received the Bronze cross for lifesaving from the National Boy Scouts of America for this action. Merritt Lamb was the first person from Michigan to receive the Bronze Cross for Lifesaving.

In 1914, Lamb is credited with establish the first Scouting units in El Paso, Texas, while he served in the U.S. Army near there.

Military career Merritt was scoutmaster when he joined the Michigan National Guard in 1910. In 1913 Merritt was promoted to corporal. Merritt was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1914. Merritt served on the Texas-Mexican Border during Pershing's punitive expedition against Pancho Villa, and helped establish the first motorized machine gun battalion. While in Texas he formed the first Scout troop.

Hackley Park Memorial In 1939, over 20 years after his death, the Muskegon Boy Scouts planted an Elm Tree in Captain Lambs honor. In addition to a tree, a plaque attached to a rock from the lamb family farm was also placed in Hackley Park.

Camp Merritt In the summer of 1919, the Muskegon Boy Scouts held a summer outing on Lake Michigan in honor of Captain Merritt. In 1921 the Muskegon Area Council bought property on the north shore of Big Blue Lake from the Muskegon Children's home.

Camp Merritt Lamb Lamb was also instrumental in the founding of Scouting in El Paso, Texas. As a recognition, in 1922 the El Paso Council named Camp Merritt Lamb in his honor.

Gerber Scout Reservation Program areas Sometime in the 1970s the Muskegon Exchange Club provided funding for the local scouts to build a flag field at Gerber Scout Reservation in honor of Captain Lamb. This flag field was eventually retired.

In 2004 Gerber Scout Reservation built a new program area called the Honor Ground. The Honor Ground program area offers Eagle Scout required merit badges during the summer. Shortly after the program area was established it was dedicated in honor of Captain Merritt Lamb

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