Tom Slade with the Colors

"Tom Slade with the Colors" by Percy Keese Fitzhugh is story set during World War I, about a young scout named Tom Slade, who is struggling to balance his desire to fight for his country with his commitments at home. Tom deeply respects his scout troop and his scoutmaster, Mr. Ellsworth, but he also yearns to prove his bravery by enlisting in the military. He feels torn between his loyalty to his friends and his own sense of duty to do more. Advised to be patient and fulfill his current responsibilities, Tom’s journey takes an adventurous turn when he sets out to find and help a fellow scout named Roscoe, who has run away from his responsibilities, leading Tom to face tough choices and tests of his courage and morals.