Civilian Defense Messenger ID Card

Members of Worthington Boy Scout Troop 65 served as Civilian Defense Messengers during World War II. This is the messenger identification card of Sam Harsh, member of Troop 65. Governor John W. Bricker presented messenger ID cards and Civilian Defense arm bands to forty nine scouts from the troop in June 1942. The Worthington scouts were the first in Franklin County to be awarded the position of Civil Defense Messengers, following 19 weeks of training at troop meetings and a basic Civilian Defense course at Memorial Hall. Richard Durst served as Scoutmaster. Approximately 3000 boy scouts were available for Civilian Defense and messenger work in central Ohio. Nationally about 1,500,000 boy scouts and 44,000 girl scouts were involved in the effort.

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.