As a point, when I look online (not the best resource, granted) I see the Eagle with the Halo as St. John the Evangelist is this different than St. John the Apostle?  I see St. John the Apostle shown as an eagle with the script of the first verse of the Gospel of John in it’s beak.  Not knowing how "religious" your symbology can get for the troop - to which are we refering or is online as bad a reference as I think it is?

I much prefer the new emblazon.  more balance.

For the crest, isn’t there a boyscout "salute" where two (or is it three) fingers are extended?  Could we do something with that?  Like a hand "shaped" like the boyscout salute (have no idea what to call it) not actually soluting, but in that position with palm facing front and the tudor rose in the palm of the hand.  <Again, I wish I could draw>

Nice one, Kathy. A hand doing the Scout sign would be a very nice crest.