Civilian Defense Arm Band

This Civilian Defense arm band was issued to a member of Boy Scout Troop 65, Worthington. The arm band supplemented the Boy Scout uniform and was awarded with Civilian Messenger ID cards. During World War II forty nine members of the troop served as Civilian Defense Messengers, the first in Central Ohio. Approximately 3000 boy scouts in Franklin County and 1,500,000 nationwide were available for Civil Defense. About 44,000 girl scouts were involved in the effort. Local Councils of Defense and Boy Scout Councils coordinated to train boy scouts to serve as messengers as well as assist in emergency medical units and serve as fire watchers. Girl scouts formed a Senior Service Scout organization distinguished by overseas caps and red armbands with duties of childcare, organizing bicycle brigades and rapid-fire messenger services.

Civilian Defense is a government program which provides guidance and assistance in emergency response and was first developed to protect the public from enemy attack in times of war. Originated during World War I, a federal agency called the Council of National Defense directed the program. The Office of Civilian Defense coordinated the program during World War II.