Vigil Honor

What is Vigil?

Alertness to the needs of others is the mark of the Vigil Honor. It calls for an individual with an unusual awareness of the possibilities within each situation.

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. Membership cannot be won by a person’s conscious endeavors.

The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition 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 of office to one or more of the following:

  • Lodge
  • Order of the Arrow
  • Scouting community
  • Scout Camp

Under no circumstances should tenure in Scouting or the Order of the Arrow be considered as reason enough for a Vigil Honor recommendation.

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 the recommendation, the individual has been a Brotherhood member for a minimum of two years. A lodge may nominate a maximum of two percent of their registered Arrowmen once a year, through the Vigil Honor petition. At least 50 percent of all nominated must be under 21 at the time of nomination.

The Vigil Committee

The following procedure has been established by the National Order of the Arrow Committee to maintain a consistent, high standard in the selection of Vigil Honor nominees across the country. Lodges should observe the procedure in recommending candidates for the Vigil Honor and in carrying out the Vigil Honor induction. None of the Vigil Honor selection and induction procedures may be delegated to chapters, other than to recommend candidates to the lodge nominating committee.

The lodge chief appoints a Vigil Honor nominating committee chair and committee members composed of youth who have been approved by the lodge adviser and Scout executive. The lodge adviser appoints one adult adviser in consultation with the lodge chief and staff adviser. The chair and committee members are usually Vigil Honor members; however, any youth member of the lodge may serve on the committee, provided that they are not eligible to receive the Vigil Honor. A committee of five to ten youth has been found effective in many lodges. The key is to keep the committee to a manageable size, yet large enough so that its members will collectively be aware which Arrowmen have been the leaders and workers in the lodge.

Mailed ballots should never be used for selection of Vigil Honor candidates. Open discussion between members of the Vigil Honor nominating committee is the best way to ensure that all eligible Brotherhood members receive proper consideration. Inasmuch as the Vigil Honor does not connote a separate membership or grouping, it is inappropriate for the nominating committee to be “a committee of the whole” involving all or substantially all Vigil Honor members of the lodge. Nor is the Vigil Honor nomination process to be one in which the Vigil Honor members of the lodge, as a group, determine who is selected.

Vigil Committee Leadership

Vigil Chairman: Ethan B.

Vigil Adviser: Mr. Zachary Clark

Vigil Honor Petitions

The Vigil Committee has updated its selection process and will no longer be accepting Vigil petitions. For a Lodge of our size, this approach ensures a more consistent and efficient nomination process that reflects the collective input of the committee.

Contact the Vigil Committee

For any questions regarding the Vigil Honor process or eligibility, please contact the Vigil Committee.

Contact the Vigil Committee

For more information, please visit https://oa-scouting.org/program/awards/vigil-honor.