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Volume 35, Number 2
I
Fall 2009
www.NESA.org
Not Afraid to do the
Dir
irty Work
‘Dirty Jobs’ host Mike Rowe learned about
honest work during his time in Scouting, page 3
Also in this issue:
Social Networking on the NESA Web site, page 6
Discover the Eagle Reserve, page 7
Scouts Band Together for Guatemalan Projects, page 8
News From the
President of NESA
ISSN 0890-4995
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
National President
John Gottschalk
National Commissioner
Tico Perez
Chief Scout Executive
Robert J. Mazzuca
NATIONAL EAGLE SCOUT ASSOCIATION
President, Glenn A. Adams
NESA Committee, Shawn L. Briese,
Dr. David Briscoe, James H. Burton,
Peter P. Casey, John M. Coughlin,
Clark W. Fetridge, Marshall Hollis,
Jack O’Neill, Thomas L. Owsley,
Congressman Pete Sessions
Director, C. William (Bill) Steele
Regents consist of more than 600 life
members of the National Eagle Scout
Association who also are recipients of
the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
EAGLETTER
Editor, C. William (Bill) Steele
Associate editor, Jeff Laughlin
Staff: Lois Albertus, Teresa Brown
Address all correspondence to
NESA, S222
Boy Scouts of America
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
http://www.NESA.org
Circulation this issue: 120,000
NESA accepts all articles from members for
submission. However, because of space limitations and dated material, we are not always able
to use all materials. We regret that we are not
able to return articles or photographs that have
been submitted for consideration. Please send
address changes to [email protected].
Include your name, new and old addresses, birth
date, and the number printed above your name
on the address label.
For detailed submission guidelines, go to
www.nesa.org and click on Eagletter Archives.
Glenn A. Adams
President
Devote Some Time to NESA.org
Greetings, fellow Eagle Scouts,
By the time you read this column, the new National Eagle Scout Association Web site
should have gone live; www.nesa.org is the culmination of more than seven years of hard
work by your NESA committee. We are indebted to NESA committee members and
Distinguished Eagle Scouts Peter Casey and Jack Coughlin, who many years ago recognized
the need for NESA to enhance its Web site to appeal to the new generation of Eagle Scouts
who expect high-quality content in exchange for their time and interest. NESA Director
Bill Steele has been a tireless champion of the new Web site. A special thanks also goes to
former national BSA President William F. Cronk, who recognized the value of what we
were attempting to do and championed the concept at every turn.
When you log on to www.nesa.org, we ask that you:
•
Log in to the “members only” section, utilizing your unique NESA membership
number on the top of your Eagletter mailing label.
•
Check your personal information, and update it if necessary.
•
Click on our social network and start chatting with like-minded Eagle Scouts.
•
If you are seeking employment, please post on our exclusive Eagle job bank. This
information will be made available to potential employers seeking the unique skills,
values, and leadership represented by America’s Eagle Scouts.
•
If you found errors in your listing in the “2008 Eagle Scout Roll of Honor” directory
published by Harris Connect, now is your chance to update and correct this
information. NESA is planning a beautiful coffee-table book in 2010, and we want to
be sure all Eagle Scouts are included and that the information is as accurate as possible.
As a Boy Scout volunteer, I have chaired numerous nominating committees at the unit,
district, and council levels. When recruiting volunteers, I have never had an Eagle Scout say
that he was not interested in volunteering to help the Boy Scouts. What I hear is “I am too
busy,” or “I want to be sure not to spread myself too thin,” or “I would love to help out, and
if I can just get my company/boss/promotion/deal (insert whatever you want) completed or
through this next economic boom or bust—THEN I would love to help you out.”
A commitment to help others comes from a different mind-set. How we use our time
speaks to our priorities in life. Faith, family, country, work, and volunteerism are all valuable
priorities. All are worthy of my time. Your time. I am sure many of you are familiar with the
famous Benjamin Franklin quote “Dost thou value life? Then guard well thy time, for time’s
the stuff life’s made of.” That quote appears on page 14 of the 1926 edition of the Handbook
for Boys—the Boy Scout Handbook. I urge you to dedicate a portion of your time to volunteer
to help the Boy Scouts of America at the unit, district, or council level. You will receive much
more than you give. I know. I have.
Yours in Scouting,
Glenn A. Adams
President
2
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
by Mark Ray
The Host of TV’s ‘Dirty Jobs’ Reflects on the
Values of Scouting and His Belief in Hard Work
T
o judge by his résumé, Eagle Scout
Mike Rowe can’t hold down a job.
Since 2003, he has tried—and has
occasionally failed at—more than 200
jobs, each seemingly more difficult
and dirtier than the last. He has
inspected sewers, wrangled ostriches,
exterminated termites, shucked oysters,
cleaned a fuel tanker, driven a garbage
truck, determined the gender of chicks,
collected diapers for odor analysis,
demolished houses in post-Katrina New
Orleans, and helped paint Michigan’s
Mackinac Bridge.
Rowe, 47, has done all these jobs—and
dozens more—as the host of “Dirty
Jobs” on the Discovery Channel.
Now in its fifth season, the program
showcases the jobs most people go
out of their way to avoid. In doing so,
Rowe celebrates the plumbers, painters,
farmers, truckers, and laborers who are
the backbone of American society.
Here’s more from Rowe, who commented
recently via e-mail on Scouting,
achievement, and the value of hard work.
You became an Eagle Scout in Troop 16
in Baltimore. What were the highlights
of your time in Scouting?
I remember experiences more than
accomplishments. Summer camp at
Broad Creek in Maryland. Playing
ridiculously dangerous games like
“swing the thing” and “British bulldog.”
Whitewater rafting. “Capture the flag”
in the dark. Going to Philmont. Riding
horses in New Mexico. Singing songs.
Hundreds of campfires. Really bad
freeze-dried food. Spam. Lots of Spam.
For your Eagle Scout leadership service
project, you worked at the Maryland
School for the Blind’s unit for people
with multiple disabilities. What did you
learn from that experience?
I realized I had
been focused
on the wrong
thing. The
experience
really wasn’t
about “fixing”
the kids; it
was about the
value of trying.
I remember
being baffled
by how much
fun the
volunteers
were having
when I
just felt
demoralized.
I couldn’t
understand
how or why
they were so
cheerful. It
wasn’t until
later that I realized their attitude was
a conscious decision. They found
meaning in service and fun in sacrifice.
These people had made an affirmative
decision to be loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, cheerful, and brave.
They were consciously living a big
chunk of the Scout Law every day and
having a ball because of it.
There seems to be a correlation
between “Dirty Jobs” and Scouting’s
merit badge program: Both require one
to learn about many different subjects.
Do you see a connection?
Both have required me to work in
areas outside of my comfort zone.
And both provide endless variety.
However, the context is different. The
merit badge program is designed to
reward accomplishment and instill
a sense of consequence. You meet
the requirements; you get the badge.
3
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Mike Rowe took on processing scrap
metal in
St. Louis, Missouri, during one show
.
Otherwise, no badge. On “Dirty Jobs,”
my only obligation is to make an honest
effort and do the work at hand. The
work itself (aside from my paycheck)
is the reward. I am probably the only
person working who is paid to try.
Do you see any other connections
between your time in Scouting and
your career?
There is nothing in my career or personal
life that is not connected to my time in
Scouting. The easy examples, like first
aid or knot tying, are too numerous
to mention. Suffice it to say that I use
the practical knowledge acquired in
Scouting every day. And the bigger
dividends, like an awareness of self or a
sense of confidence, are too influential
to imagine being absent. Remove
Scouting from my past, and I have
absolutely no idea where I’d be today.
Or, for that matter, who.
One of Mike Rowe’s dirty jobs
involved repainting the Mackinac
Bridge in Michigan.
Can you give us the genesis of your new
Web site, mikeroweWORKS.com?
I gave a speech last year to the employees
and suppliers of a company called
W. W. Grainger, which sells industrial
cleaning supplies around the world. I
talked about my belief that hard work
and skilled labor were in need of a PR
campaign, and wondered aloud what
that effort might entail. Afterward,
the CEO of the company pulled
me aside and offered to help me in
any endeavor that might bolster the
dwindling enrollments in trade and
technical schools.
comprehensive
online destination
that provides
thousands of links
to scholarships and
apprenticeships
and opportunities
for people who
aren’t afraid to work
hard and master a
trade. It’s coming
along. So far, we’ve
assembled a ton
of data and started
to compile it into
a usable format.
There are forums
for tradesmen
and a place to
contribute links
and other relevant
information.
Our country is in the midst of an
economic downturn. How important is
promoting the trades during a recession?
There’s never a good time to not promote
the trades because these are the jobs that
make civilized life possible. And yet,
When the CEO of a multibilliondollar company offers that kind of
encouragement, you don’t dawdle. I
devised mikeroweWORKS primarily as
a call to arms. I wanted to point out the
many ways modern society has declared
war on the traditional notions of work
and start a conversation about the true
definition of a “good job.”
What do you hope to accomplish with
mikeroweWORKS? What have you
accomplished so far?
I hope to make a case for hard work
and skilled labor by challenging the
notion that a four-year degree is the
only path to a worthwhile career. I want
to create a Trade Resource Center—a
4
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
that’s exactly what we’ve been doing for
decades. Hollywood portrays working
people in stereotypes so transparent
it’s laughable. Madison Avenue tells
us over and over that our unhappiness
is a result of too much work and not
enough play. “American Idol” is the No.
1 show in the world, and its message is
clear: overnight fame and fortune. Work
today is portrayed as drudgery, and that
perception needs to change, now more
than ever.
The new jobs to be “created” in the
coming months and years will not
require degrees in English or art history;
they will require an understanding of
our infrastructure and a willingness
to embrace a trade and get physically
dirty. Skilled labor—the kind that
actually results in the making of a
thing—has never been unnecessary,
only unloved. That will change, but
not until we see those vocations as
worthwhile and celebrate the people
who chose that road.
The “Dirty Jobs” host isn’t afraid to get
himself dirty to complete a job.
“I hope to make a case
for hard work and skilled
labor by challenging the
notion that a four-year
degree is the only path to a
worthwhile career.”
—Mike Rowe
A Scout’s father recently asked you to
write his son a letter explaining why
he should complete his Eagle Scout
requirements. The letter you wrote told
the Scout not to bother if he didn’t have
the guts to see it through. Why did you
take that approach?
Personally, I was always suspicious of
those platitudes about determination
and perseverance that adults love to
throw around, so I responded with a
very candid reply that essentially told
the boy to take comfort in the fact that
a decision to quit would put him in
the overwhelming majority of other
like-minded Scouts who had chosen an
easier path.
The truth is, the letter was really meant
for the father. There’s a fine line between
encouraging a kid when he’s stuck and
dragging him across the finish line
because he doesn’t feel like running. I
wanted to suggest that the journey is
supposed to be difficult, and the odds
are very much against you. That’s what
makes the award an accomplishment.
The vast majority of high school
graduates will never make it to Harvard.
The vast majority of Olympians will
never get a gold medal. And the vast
majority of Scouts will never make it
to Eagle. Some people will find those
facts discouraging. Some will find
them challenging. Regardless, Scouting
prepares kids for life, and life is not
always about succeeding. Quite the
opposite, in fact, which is why not
making it to Eagle can have its own value.
Kelby,
During one episode, Mike Rowe tried his hand at
shucking oysters in a job at an oyster reef.
Anything else you’d want to tell an
audience of Eagle Scouts?
The Scout Law is still one of the best
guides for living you’ll find. But if
you’re going to deliberately ignore one
element, make it “clean.” It’s overrated.
Mike Rowe’s Letter to a Potential Eagle Scout
Mike Rowe sent this letter to a Life Scout who
wasn’t sure he wanted to finish his Eagle Scout
requirements—and to the dad who was pushing
his son along. Rowe also sends congratulatory
letters to Scouts who do reach Scouting’s highest
rank. See http://www.mikeroweworks.com/scrapyard/eagle-scout-letter/ for details.
Your dad asked me to drop you a line and say something inspirational that might persuade
you to dig down deep and find the determination to make the rank of Eagle Scout. It’s a reasonable
request, from a father who obviously wants to see his son succeed. But here’s the thing. The Eagle Award is not really meant for people who need
to be dragged across the finish line. It’s meant for a select few, and I have no idea if you have the guts to see it through.
Statistically, I suspect you do not. Only one out of a hundred Scouts make Eagle, so if you fail, there will be lots of other people with whom you can
share excuses. Quitting now might disappoint your dad, but I doubt that he or anyone else will be overly surprised. Anytime 99 out of 100 people
do the same thing, it’s not exactly a shock.
I’m not trying to be cute with a bunch of reverse psychology. When I was 15, there was nothing that anyone could have said to me that would have
inspired me to do something I didn’t want to do, especially a stranger with a TV show. So I’m not going to assume
you’re any different or pretend that
I have some influence or insight that you haven’t already heard from a dozen other people who actually know
and care about you. I’ll just tell you
straight up that doing something extraordinary can be very lonely, and most people simply aren’t cut out
for it. Being an Eagle Scout requires you to
be different than most everyone around you, and being different is really, really hard. That’s why the award
is called “an accomplishment.”
Personally, and for whatever it’s worth, the best decisions I’ve made in my own life are those decisions that
put me on the outside of being cool.
Singing in the opera, working in home shopping, starring in the school
play when the entire football team laughed at me, and especially earni
ng my
Eagle were all choices that required sacrifice, hard work, and delayed gratif
ication. I have no idea if you possess those qualities or even envy them.
But I can tell you for certain that not getting your Eagle will be one of
the easiest things you’ve ever done.
Whatever you decide to do, Kelby, it’s important to remember that the
decision is yours. Not your Dad’s, not your friend ’s, and not your
Scoutmaster’s. And you’ll own that decision for the rest of your life.
Good luck, Mike
5
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Connecting Just Got Easier for Eagles
by Mark Ray
Since its founding in 1972, the National
Eagle Scout Association has worked hard to
reconnect Eagle Scouts with the Scouting
movement. Now, it’s working just as hard to
reconnect Eagle Scouts with one another.
Through a robust new online community
(accessible through www.nesa.org), NESA
members can find old friends and make new
ones, share good news about themselves, join
in discussions on Scouting-related topics,
advertise local Scouting events, and post or
search job listings. Built by Harris Connect, the
community offers the best of social-network
sites such as Facebook and Plaxo while adding
services common to professional and alumni
associations. Best of all, the community, which
launched in May, is completely free—another
benefit of NESA membership.
Members can search for other Eagle Scouts by
name, location, award year, professional title,
and Scouting involvement or awards. Each
member has a profile page he can update,
which can include family, academic, and
professional information, as well as a photo.
(Each member controls how much of this
information is publicly available.) By adding
another Eagle Scout as a friend, a member can
easily access that person’s profile page or view
a list of his friends.
The NESA Notes section of the site expands
on the Awards and Recognitions section of
Eagletter. Members can post notes about their
Scouting involvement (past, present, or future),
their other community activities, their family
and spiritual life, their hobbies, and their
educational and professional accomplishments.
Before long, some of those professional
accomplishments may happen as a result of
the site’s Career Center, where members can
search for jobs and post available positions.
“This is a benefit NESA has never been able to
provide, and it should be incredibly valuable,”
NESA committee member Peter Casey said.
“We now have a way for Eagle Scouts to talk to
each other specifically about jobs and about
particular jobs. People recognize that Eagle
Scouts accomplish things, and they tend to
gravitate toward them if they’re looking for
someone who can be productive.”
Joining NESA’s Online Community
To join NESA’s online community, all you need is your name and your
NESA member number (which is the same as your BSA ID number).
That number appears above your name on your Eagletter mailing label
and is preceded by your three-digit council number.
• Begin by pointing your Web browser to http://www.nesa.org. Click the
NESA Members Section link, go to the online community’s welcome
page, and then click “register now.” (If you try to access other parts of
the Members Section, you’ll also be prompted to register.)
• Search for your Eagle Scout record using your first and last name, then
enter your NESA member number to verify your record. You’ll be
prompted to create a user ID (six to 20 characters), a password (six or
more characters), and a security word to be used in case you lose your
login information.
• Once you’ve completed the registration process, you will have
immediate access to all the features of the online community. Note,
however, that if you create a permanent e-mail address, that e-mail
won’t be operable for 12 to 24 hours.
For more information about using the online community, send an
e-mail to [email protected].
6
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Continuing the Adventure
On the evening I received my Eagle badge, I remember someone telling me that “the Eagle trail never
ends.” Well, people gave me lots of advice that night, most of which I promptly forgot when I entered
college several months thereafter.
But in my mid-20s, I returned to Scouting. I got back on that trail. And in writing Legacy of Honor
(2007) and Spirit of Adventure (2009), I quickly discovered I wasn’t alone. As new travels carry me
across the country and around the world, I’m uncovering Eagle Scouts of every stripe continuing the
adventure of Scouting and changing the world for the better.
by Alvin Townley
I’ll be sharing some of these stories in Eagletter. Some will surface during my travels, but I hope that
readers will uncover many more. If you know Eagle Scouts who are living an adventure with a greater
purpose, please let me know at [email protected].
I hope you’ll enjoy reading about our fellow Eagles and take some inspiration from their examples.
Discover the Eagle Reserve
kept them divided into six
patrols, the Scouts mastered
every skill we taught them:
fishing, orienteering, cooking,
and the predictably popular
axemanship. Thirty-four
Scouts all boisterously together
yielded quite different results.
“I just wish I knew how to get
involved again.”
I’ve heard that comment more
than a few times, particularly
from Eagle Scouts in their 20s
and 30s. Our lives are hectic,
wallets are often thin, and
many of us don’t yet have
children ready for Scouting.
The overall result? These
young men experienced the
real adventure of Scouting.
They saw Scouting’s values
in their leaders and learned
new skills themselves. They’ll
come back again, and that’s
a victory.
Eight of us in Atlanta tried
something new, figuring we
could all donate at least one
weekend a year for Scouting.
The Eagle Reserve crew that took Troop 100 in Atlanta on a camping trip (from
We aimed to help Scouts
left): Paul Vetter, Jordan Hitchens, Alvin Townley, David Perez, Townsend Bailey,
in need of leaders … and
Drew Bolton, Josh Harmon, and Bryan Paquette.
have a great time ourselves.
On Sunday morning, after the Scouts had boarded a bus for
So, looking for fun and an opportunity to serve, we
home, our “Eagle Reserve” crew celebrated the weekend’s
volunteered to take the Scouts of Troop 100 camping.
success with breakfast not far from our rural campsite. For
Chartered by the Atlanta Public Schools and The 100
the first time since we were 17, we had fun on a Scout trip.
Black Men of America, Troop 100 serves youth in Atlanta’s
For the first time since we were Scouts ourselves, we watched
inner city. Like many urban units, Troop 100 faces a real
younger Scouts gain new experiences and develop the same
challenge to find leaders, especially for weekend excursions
passion for Scouting that still burns inside us, all these years
into the woods.
later. Imagine how many lives America’s Eagle Scouts can
change if we each help just one troop of boys.
So together with Scoutmaster Jay Bailey and me, Eagle
Scouts Paul Vetter, Jordan Hitchens, David Perez, Townsend
The Eagle Reserve idea has begun to spread, person by
Bailey, Drew Bolton, Josh Harmon, and Bryan Paquette
person, around the country. Everywhere I travel, I find
joined 34 young Scouts, none of whom had any camping
alumni eager to reconnect and help in a meaningful way.
experience or a rank above Second Class.
For many young alumni, the Reserve provides the perfect
way. Find out more at www.EagleReserve.org.
It was, for everyone, an adventure. We quickly remembered
the real purpose of Baden-Powell’s patrol method: keeping
Go get involved, and I’ll see you along the trail.
Scouts separated into manageable groups! As long as we
7
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
From Arlington to Antigua
Virginia Scouts Travel to Guatemala for a Trio of Eagle Projects—and a Whole Lot More
by Mark Ray
L
ast June, in a classroom in the
dusty village of Vuelta Grande,
Guatemala, Boy Scout Will
Troppe stood next to fellow Scout
Chris Stephens, translating into
Spanish Chris’ instructions for treating
water. A group of poor Mayan women
that was gathered around them
followed their words carefully—until
one woman’s cell phone went off.
“It was incredible to me,” Will said.
“That image will stay in my mind for a
long time.”
It was an image that showed the
progress Guatemala has made and the
challenges it still faces. Villagers have
cell phones but little clean water. Citydwellers have Internet access, but many
of their children shine shoes or sell
trinkets on the street in order to survive.
In 2006, 13-year-old Will and his
father, Mark, made their first trip to
Guatemala—not to install a watertreatment system but to learn Spanish
from native speakers. Traveling 1,875
miles from their home in Alexandria,
Virginia, they enrolled in language
classes through Centro Linguistico La
Unión, one of the best language schools
in Antigua, Guatemala.
They learned Spanish and so much
more. Having watched kids who were
Will’s age begging in the streets, they
began talking about the feasibility
of doing an Eagle Scout project that
would benefit Guatemala. Rather
than collecting clothing or other
supplies at home and shipping them
to Guatemala, they planned to take
Scouts, Scout leaders, and parents to
the Central American country.
In addition to its language classes, La
Unión coordinates volunteer efforts in
villages around Antigua, so Will had
an agency on the ground with which
to work. All he needed to do was
convince the leaders of Troop 167—
and his mother, Mikki Atsatt—that he
could make the trip work.
Will Troppe (left) and his Scouting friends from Guatemala traded stories and experiences during the trip.
“I thought, like Will, that it would be a
great way to get some other folks down
there,” Mark said. “My wife, Will’s
mother, was a little more skeptical
about the amount of work that was
involved. I was pretty comfortable with
the idea, having been there.”
Atsatt quickly came on board in the
summer of 2007, when she and Will
took a second trip to Guatemala. By
then, other Scouts had joined their
effort too, including two who were also
looking for Eagle Scout service projects.
“When we looked at the different jobs
they needed done at the school (in
Vuelta Grande), we noticed that several
different people could get their Eagle
projects done on this trip,” Will said.
“[The locals] needed water treatment.
They needed some bookshelves. They
were trying to construct a little library
in the corner of one of their school
rooms, and they also needed a lot of
smaller jobs done.”
Eventually, three Eagle projects
emerged: Chris Stephens would
test local well water and set up a
chlorine-based water filtration system.
Tom Mosher would collect clothing
8
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
and sports equipment, construct
bookshelves, and buy books to expand
the village library. And Will would
tackle a massive erosion problem that
threatened the school.
Will’s work to put the trip together—
recruiting participants, raising money,
coordinating details with his contacts
in Guatemala—didn’t count as part of
his Eagle project. However, he learned
as much from that work as he did
from his actual project. To enhance his
language skills, he used Spanish in all
his e-mails with the staff at La Unión.
Early on, Will’s father had a better
grasp of Spanish and helped him
translate e-mails as they came in. That
soon changed. “As the year went on,
Will was much more independent,”
Mark said. “By the end of the year,
I was looking at them and saying,
‘What’s this, Will?’ It was really neat as
a parent to see that progression.”
Participants in the 2008 trip took daily
Spanish lessons at La Unión. They
also enjoyed a variety of cultural and
adventure activities, including a visit to
some nearby Mayan ruins and a hike
up an active volcano. They also stayed
Chris Stephens and his father, George Stephens,
review plans for the water filtration system.
Getting local participation had long
been a key goal of the trip. Will had
heard that community service wasn’t as
prevalent in Guatemala as it is in the
United States, and he wanted to set an
example. “One of the things we tried to
do is demonstrate the value of working
together and the things that it can
accomplish,” he said.
Will and his dad hope their example
spreads to other American Scouts.
“We didn’t want to do a one-shot
thing,” Mark said. “We really wanted
to do something that was part of an
ongoing project. We hoped, and we
continue to hope, that there would be
other Scouts from around the United
States who might be interested in
doing something like this.”
with host families in Antigua, getting a
firsthand look at life in Guatemala.
Perhaps the most exciting cultural
component of the trip almost didn’t
happen. On their 2006 trip, Will and
his dad decided to contact the Scout
Association of Guatemala to see if
they could get local Scouts involved in
their project. Unfortunately, Mark said,
“it was closed the last day we were in
town, so we didn’t get to hook up with
them until we went back last summer.”
When the American contingent arrived
at the airport, about 20 Guatemalan
Scouts and leaders were there to greet
them. “We rode the bus into Antigua
from the airport with them, and we
heard their Scouting chants and their
Scouting songs,” Will said. “We spent
a couple of hours and talked about
the different Scouting experiences in
the different countries. That was a
really great way to start off the week.”
It was really a lot of fun. Their Scout
leaders were terrific. They jumped right
in and were working hard; we really
enjoyed their company.”
“One of the things that we
tried to do is demonstrate
the value of working
together and the things
that it can accomplish.”
—Will Troppe
Although other Scouts would face
financial and language barriers, he
pointed out that Troop 167’s trip
helped smooth the way for future trips.
The staff at La Unión understands what
is required to support an Eagle project,
and the Troppes are happy to share
what they’ve learned.
Doing an Eagle project in a foreign
country may seem daunting, but
Will, Chris, and Tom proved that it’s
possible. After all, Guatemala may be
1,875 miles from Virginia, but it’s just
a cell phone call away. Just ask the
Mayan women in Vuelta Grande.
The Scouts’ projects included testing local
well water and setting up a water filtration system.
The American and Guatemalan
Scouts held a joint dinner at a local
restaurant in the middle of the week.
The following day, the Guatemalan
Scouts showed up at the school in
Vuelta Grande to help out. “They
brought their equipment and really
helped us out a lot at a critical crunch
time for the three projects,” Will said.
Mark agreed: “They were all ages, boys
and girls. Some of the little kids were
hanging out with our bigger guys.
The Scouts’ projects included setting up a water filtration system
9
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Awards and Recognitions
Eagle Scouts just seem to shine, even after reaching the top honor in Scouting.
They continue to strive for new heights, and accolades naturally seem to follow.
Ralph Baber, Huntington,
West Virginia, retired USAF
officer, has published his
second murder mystery titled
Always in Deepest Sympathy.
The story is set in Huntington
and involves the local
police department.
John A. Beebe Sr.,
Highland, Indiana, has
accepted entry into America’s
Registry of Outstanding
Professionals for his work in
youth development through
the Boy Scouts of America in
Highland, Indiana.
Ensign Jim Burt, Columbia,
Tennessee, received a
Bachelor of Science degree in
aerospace engineering from
the U.S. Naval Academy in
Annapolis, Maryland.
Rev. Keith M. Cervine,
Annandale, New Jersey, was
ordained to the Priesthood of
the Roman Catholic Church
by The Most Reverend Paul G.
Bootkoski, bishop for the
Diocese of Metuchen at the
Cathedral of St. Francis of
Assisi, Metuchen, New Jersey.
Cervine is serving as a
parochial vicar at Immaculate
Conception parish,
Annandale, New Jersey.
David Andrew Cohn,
Yorktown, New York,
graduated from State
University of New York
Purchase College, with a
bachelor’s in sociology. He
was also inducted into Alpha
Kappa Delta, an international
sociology honors society.
Major Robert Coon, Aurora,
Colorado, was awarded the
Army Meritorious Service
Medal for outstanding
performance of duty as the
operations officer of the
147th Brigade Support
Battalion and concurrently,
the operations officer of Joint
Task Force Colorado CBRNE
enhanced response force. The
Meritorious Service Medal is
awarded to any member of
the U.S. armed forces while
serving in a noncombat area
who has distinguished
himself or herself by
outstanding meritorious
achievement or service.
Kyden Creekpaum, Tulsa,
Oklahoma, received a Master
en droit from the Institut
d’Etudes Politiques de Paris
and Université Paris
I-Panthéon, Sorbonne, France,
and a Juris Doctor degree
from Georgetown Law Center
in Washington, D.C.
John Adrian Dalton, Rocky
Mount, Virginia, graduated
from Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, Virginia, with a
Bachelor of Science degree in
biology and a minor in
leadership and social change.
Bill Daughtridge, Rocky
Mount, North Carolina, was
elected to the board of
governors at the University
of North Carolina. This is
the governing body for the
entire university system of
North Carolina.
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E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Robert J. DeSousa,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was
awarded the Meritorious
Service Medal for service as a
lieutenant colonel in the
Pennsylvania Army National
Guard. The award was
presented by Col. Brian
Leonhard, commander of the
213th Area Support Group,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Shawn M. Duster,
Saxonburg, Pennsylvania,
graduated from West Virginia
University’s Lane Computer
Science and Electrical
Engineering College, earning
a Bachelor of Science degree
in electrical engineering and
a minor in mathematics.
Colin Dunne Fernandez,
Riverdale, New York, received
a Bachelor of Science degree
with a double major in
finance and management
from the Dolan School of
Business, Fairfield University,
in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Mark Todd Fetter, Carlisle,
Pennsylvania, received a
master’s degree in strategic
studies from the United
States Army War College.
Stephen Joseph Giordano,
Garden City, New York,
received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of
Virginia. He graduated with a
double major in economics
and the classics.
Awards and Recognitions
Eagle Scouts just seem to shine, even after reaching the top honor in Scouting.
They continue to strive for new heights, and accolades naturally seem to follow.
Scott Lloyd Hagerty,
Ostrander, Ohio, graduated
cum laude from Tufts
University in Medford,
Massachusetts, with a
bachelor’s degree in
international relations
and economics.
John Adrian Hallacy was
elected judge of the 10th
District in Calhoun County,
Michigan. Prior to his
election, Judge Hallacy served
eight years (two terms)
as Calhoun County
prosecuting attorney.
Howard G. Hammes,
Trenton, Michigan, was
named the “Trentonite of the
Year” by the Trenton Civic
Commission for his
outstanding commitment to
the community. He is a
member of the Trenton
Goodfellows, bringing
Christmas to less fortunate
children, and also serves as a
volunteer police sergeant
with the Trenton Auxiliary
Police Department.
Frederick Arn Hansson, San
Mateo, California, was
appointed to the San Mateo
City Council. In addition,
he was awarded a statewide
“Champion of the
Community” by the
nonprofit California Parks
and Recreations Society for
his work as a Scoutmaster,
which included recognizing
work that Troop 27 had
done to improve San
Mateo’s Laurelwood Park
and Sugarloaf Mountain
Open Space.
Trevor Hartwell, Trenton,
Michigan, received a doctoral
degree in dental surgery
from the University of
Michigan Dental School in
Ann Arbor. He will practice
dentistry with his father,
Dr. Brian Hartwell, in
Trenton, Michigan.
Thomas Mario Hernandez,
Tallahassee, Florida,
received a master’s degree
in construction and civil
engineering from the
University of Florida
in Gainesville.
John Xavier Holmes,
Granger, Indiana, received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from
Wabash College in
Crawfordsville, Indiana, with
a major in economics and a
minor in religion.
Michael Johnson Jr.,
Pullman, Washington,
received a bachelor’s degree
from the University of New
Orleans in Louisiana, and a
master’s in liberal arts with a
concentration in social and
political thought from the
University of South Florida in
Tampa. He is currently a
doctoral candidate in
American studies at
Washington State University
in Pullman, Washington.
Matthew C. Koenings,
Elkton, Maryland, was named
to the DuPont Air Products
NanaMaterials board
of directors.
11
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Michael D. Lanclos,
Pineville, Louisiana, received
his Master of Science degree
in nursing from Northwestern
State University of Louisiana
with a specialty as a Neonatal
Nurse Practitioner. He will be
working as an NNP in the
Neonatal Intensive Care
Units of Children’s Medical
Center in Dallas, Texas, and
Rapides Women’s and
Children’s Hospital in
Alexandria, Louisiana.
Matthew Bytheway Lehman,
Dublin, Ohio, received a
bachelor’s degree in systems
and control engineering, cum
laude, from Case Western
Reserve University in
Cleveland, Ohio. As part of
graduation weekend, he also
received the EECS Research
Award for exceptional
research potential.
Robert Lewis, West
Bloomfield, Michigan,
achieved a 4.0 for the second
term of his freshman year and
made the President’s List and
Dean’s List. He is currently
majoring in criminal justice at
Florida State University in
Tallahassee, Florida.
Louis D. Marks Jr., Hurst,
Texas, received the prestigious
2009 Department of Defense
Nunn-Perry Award for Mentor
Program excellence in San
Francisco, California.
Awards and Recognitions
Eagle Scouts just seem to shine, even after reaching the top honor in Scouting.
They continue to strive for new heights, and accolades naturally seem to follow.
Matthew Stephen
McConnell, Salem,
Massachusetts, received
a doctoral degree in
musical composition
from the New England
Conservatory of Music
in Boston, Massachusetts.
Bradley Joe McGee, Fyffe,
Alabama, received a Doctor
of Pharmacy degree from
the University of Colorado,
Denver Health and Science
Center. He is employed
at C&H Drugs in Fort
Payne, Alabama.
Andrew Patrick Minucci,
Edison, New Jersey, received a
Bachelor of Arts degree in
English from Wagner College
in Staten Island, New York.
Matthew Ryan Morgan,
Peoria, Illinois, received a
Bachelor of Science degree
in the College of
Engineering from Southern
Illinois University in
Carbondale, Illinois.
Aaron Andrew Nash,
Allentown, Pennsylvania,
graduated with highest
honors from Rochester
Institute of Technology in
New York, with bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in
mechanical engineering. He
has been hired full time by
Boeing in Seattle, Washington.
Jeffrey M. Orkisz, Columbia,
Michigan, received a Bachelor
of Science degree in
construction management
from Ferris State University in
Big Rapids, Michigan.
Jeremy E. Pampuch,
Bridgeton, New Jersey,
received a Bachelor of Science
degree in civil engineering
from Widener University in
Chester, Pennsylvania.
Peter J. Persampieri,
Brewster, New York,
graduated cum laude from
Providence College in Rhode
Island, and received the
Rhode Island CPA Society
Award for academic
excellence in accounting. He
is a Tau Pi Phi National
Business Administration
Honor Society member and
currently attends Providence
College Graduate School,
working for his master’s in
business administration.
Wayne Powell, Manhattan
Beach, California, was
selected to the Manhattan
Beach City Council.
Loren Keith Reed, Little
York, Illinois, graduated
summa cum laude from
Bradley University in Peoria,
Illinois, with a Bachelor of
Science degree in cell and
molecular biology.
12
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Robert H. Richmond III,
Lockport, Illinois, received
the William T. Hornaday
Silver Medal for distinguished
service to conservation. He
was designated an Illinois
Environmental Hero by
Illinois governor Pat Quinn,
and received the Illinois
EPA Green Youth Award and
the U.S. EPA Presidential
Environmental Youth Award
for the Great Lakes Region
in 2008.
Raymond Rosenberg, M.Ed.,
M.Ed., LDTC, Ridgefield, New
Jersey, has been accepted by
the National Association of
Special Education Teachers,
and the National Association
of Young Children. He plans
to attend Montclair State
University in New Jersey to
become a child advocate.
Zachary R. Schreiner,
formerly of Wichita,
Kansas, received the degree
of Juris Doctor from the
University of Tulsa Law
School in Oklahoma.
Erik Michael Sloss, Berkeley,
Illinois, received a Bachelor of
Arts degree in business
management and marketing
from Calvin College in Grand
Rapids, Michigan.
Leslie Norman Smee,
Atlanta, Georgia, received a
Master of Science degree in
human-computer interaction
with a management of
technology certificate from
the Georgia Institute of
Technology in Atlanta.
Awards and Recognitions
Eagle Scouts just seem to shine, even after reaching the top honor in Scouting.
They continue to strive for new heights, and accolades naturally seem to follow.
Matthew D. South, South
Richmond, Virginia, received
a Bachelor of Science degree
in mechanical engineering
from Virginia Tech in
Blacksburg, Virginia.
Rory Spence, Los Angeles,
California, received a Master of
Science degree in physiological
science from UCLA.
Neil Richard Steiner, San
Jose, California, received a
Bachelor of Science degree
in business administration
with an option in marketing
from California State
University in Chico.
Allen Taylor, Plymouth, New
Hampshire, graduated from
the University of Vermont
with a degree in forestry and
has been hired by Upland
Forestry in New York’s
Adirondack State Park.
Grant Asano Umeda, Los
Angeles, California, received a
Ph.D. in materials science
and engineering at UCLA.
Wes M. Weissgarber, San
Antonio, Texas, received a
Bachelor of Science degree in
engineering from Texas
Christian University in Fort
Worth. Wes has accepted a
position with Jacobs
Engineering in San Antonio.
Allan Wickard, Bridgeport,
Nebraska, graduated from the
University of Nebraska in
Lincoln. He received a
Bachelor of Science degree in
mechanical engineering.
Bobby Ray Williams Jr.,
Houston, Texas, received
a Master of Public
Administration degree with a
specialization in public policy
from the Barbara JordanMickey Leland School of
Public Affairs at Texas Southern
University in Houston.
Christopher Spencer Wong,
Sacramento, California,
received a Bachelor of
Science degree in nutritional
science and a bachelor’s
degree in integrative biology
from the University of
California, Berkeley.
Eagle Scouts in the News
Eagle Scout Ken Whisenhunt, the head
coach of the Arizona Cardinals, credits
Scouting with his football success.
A walk-on at Georgia Tech and a
12th-round NFL draft pick, Whisenhunt
quickly learned that tenacity is as
important as talent. “I was not the most
talented or gifted athlete, but I’ve always
done my best to be prepared,” he told
an audience at a recent Friends of Scouting dinner in his
hometown of Augusta, Ga.
elder wisdom. “I’ve made the decision to help mold boys
into men as long as I’m able,” Benator told the magazine.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
When he sprained his ankle, Eagle Scout Scott Mason
learned the hard way that hiking alone is not a good
idea—especially on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington.
Fortunately, the 17-year-old was able to rely on other
lessons learned from his time in Scouting that sustained
him during the three days it took rescuers to find him. He
started a fire with hand sanitizer, wrapped his feet in plastic
bags to keep them relatively dry, and built a rock shelter to
block frigid mountain winds.
Young patients at the American Hospital in Doha, Qatar,
now receive treatment in more pleasant surroundings thanks
to a 2008 Eagle Scout project. Milos Markicevic, a member
of Troop 970 in Doha (part of the Direct Service Council)
renovated and redecorated the hospital’s pediatric clinic.
In 2001, Scout Alex Hill created SCOUT BANANA (Serving
Citizens of Uganda Today, Because Africa Needs a New
Ambulance) as his Eagle Scout service project. Eight
years later, the project has become a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization dedicated to raising awareness of healthcare
issues in Africa. And, yes, Uganda long ago received its
new ambulance.
Eagle Scout Josiah Benator has led Troop 73 in Atlanta for
his entire adult life—and he’s now 87 years old. AARP The
Magazine featured him in a recent article on the power of
13
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Eagle Scouting Is a Family Affair
Allem family, Sand Springs, Oklahoma
(From left) Jon Allem (1967),
Mark Allem (2008)
Bentley family, Nacogdoches, Texas
(From left) Rev. Farrar Bentley (1954),
Lt. Col. Stephen John Bentley (1978),
Christopher Farrar Bentley Jr. (2009),
Dr. Andrew Edward Bentley (1981),
Col. Christopher Farrar Bentley Sr. (1976)
Carney family, Memphis, Tennessee
(From left) John M. Carney (2000), Frederick
T. Carney Jr. (1970), Frederick T. Carney
(1932), Patrick O. Carney (1998),
Frederick T. Carney III (1993)
Allman family, Highland Park, Illinois
(From left) Scott Allman (1972), Jeff Allman
(1967), Brian Allman (2006), Mark Allman
(1975), Thomas M. Allman (2005),
Greg Allman (1969)
Billadeau family, Weare, New Hampshire
(From left) Ry Billadeau (2006), Shea
Billadeau (2004), Brahms Billadeau (2008),
Brock Billadeau (2001)
Chalk family, Dallas, Texas
(From left) Richard Chalk (1968), Michael
Vincent Davis (2008), Davey Chalk (1945)
Bakker family, Ithaca, Michigan
(From left) Steve Bakker (1973),
Gerrit Bakker (2007)
Broomhead family,
Colorado Springs, Colorado
(From left) Rendal Broomhead, Aaron J.
Broomhead (2008), John M. Broomhead
(1982), Clara Broomhead,
Spencer V. Broomhead (2003)
Collins family, Brookfield, Connecticut
(From left) Charles E. Collins III (2008),
Charles E. Collins Jr. (1978)
Barnhart family, San Diego, California
(From left) Fred Barnhart (1968), Daniel
Barnhart (2008), Donald Barnhart (1943)
Burt family, Columbia, Tennessee
(From left) James Thompson Burt (2002),
Lucas Wade Burt (2004),
Russell Walker Burt (2008)
Cook family, Tigard, Oregon
(From left) Ryan Cook (2007),
John Cook (1977)
14
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Cox family, Hayesville, North Carolina
(From left) Blake Cox (2007), Alex Cox (2007)
Dial family, Crossville, Tennessee
(From left) Michael Dial (1994), Jonathan
Dial (2004), David Dial (1972)
Ehlers family, Kansas City, Missouri
(From left) James Brandon Milam (2008),
John Bartlett Milam (1985),
Jerry William Ehlers (1960)
Crafton family, Lake Orion, Michigan
(From left) Stephen Crafton (2001),
Jeffrey Crafton (2003),
William Christopher Crafton (2001)
Dougherty family, Bothell, Washington
(From left) Matt Dougherty (2004),
Andy Dougherty (2009)
Ellis family, Danville, Kentucky
(From left) Stephen Ellis (1974), William Ellis
(2008), Nellie Ellis, Charles Ellis (2004)
Culbertson family, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
(From left) Daniel F. Sheridan Jr. (1971),
Patrick Sheridan (1996),
Andrew D. Culbertson (2008),
Matthew D. Culbertson (1969)
Duncan family, Lindenhurst, Illinois
(From left) John Duncan (1987), Daniel
Duncan (2007), Joel Duncan (1989)
Erman family, Westlake Village, California
(From left) Dr. Russ David Erman (1978),
Dr. Seneca Lawrence Erman (1944),
Jared Andrew Erman (2007)
Daleiden family, Georgetown, Texas
(From left) Joshua M. Daleiden (1998),
Jedidiah T. Daleiden (2007), Jacob M.
Daleiden (2007), Justin F. Daleiden (1999)
Durfee family, Yorba Linda, California
(From left) David D. Durfee (2006), Peter H.
Durfee (1975), Steven P. Durfee (2008),
Jonathan C. Durfee (2005)
Everett family, Valley Lee, Maryland
(From left) Win Everett (1970), Jesse Everett
(2009), Alex Everett (2005)
15
15
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Eagle Scouting Is a Family Affair
Farnam family, The Woodlands, Texas
(From left) Kevin G. Farnam (1976),
David M. Holtkamp (2008)
Geurin family, Pensacola, Florida
(From left) Gene Geurin (1947), Alexander
Geurin (2008), Dustan Geurin (2000)
Hendon family, Rockwall, Texas
(From left) Brian Keith Hendon (1971),
Arthur Woodfin Hendon (1945)
Felton family, San Mateo, California
(From left) Matthew Felton (2006),
Bryant Felton (2008)
Glassanos family, Sunnyvale, California
(From left) Daniel James Glassanos (2001),
David Scott Glassanos (2004),
Brian Robert Glassanos (2008)
Hodnichak family, Marysville, Ohio
(From left) Nathan Hodnichak (2008),
Michael Hodnichak (1971), Adam
Hodnichak (2007), George Hodnichak, Jim
Hodnichak (1971), Josh Hodnichak (2003),
George Hodnichak (1970)
Fisackerly family, Winter Park, Florida
(From left) Lance Lewis (2008), Mark Lewis
(2006), Bill Fisackerly IV (1981),
Bill Fisackerly III (1948)
Groza family, Nampa, Idaho
(From left) Michael D. Claar (2009),
Robert Groza Sr. (1954)
Hoffman family, Kendall Park, New Jersey
(From left) Gerry A. Hoffman (1946),
Thomas P. Hoffman (2009),
Douglas G. Hoffman (1975)
Garrett family, Carmel, Indiana
(From left) Dennis Ray Garrett (1969), Keith
Alan Garrett (1974), David Wayne Garrett
(2007), L. Wayne Garrett (1964)
Heiferman family, River Forest, Illinois
(From left) Jeffrey Heiferman (2008), Daniel
Heiferman (2002), Michael Heiferman (2006)
16
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Houts family, Bloomington, Minnesota
(From left) Charles W.T. Houts (1977),
Richard W. E. Houts (1975), Chris W. F. Houts
(1993), Ian W. Houts (2008), W. Wallace
Houts (1945), Anton R. Houts (2007), Robert
W. H. Houts (1971), Jason T. Houts (2009)
Jobe family, Raleigh, North Carolina
(From left) Dr. R. Lee Jobe (1976),
Robert Tyler Jobe (2008)
Lucchi family, Bowie, Maryland
(From left) Michael Lucchi (2009),
Len Lucchi (1973)
Martin family, Colonial Heights, Virginia
(From left) Edward R. Martin (1945),
Steven E. Bishop (1999)
Karabinos family, Johns Creek, Georgia
(From left) Christopher James Karabinos Sr.
(1978), John David Karabinos (2009),
Christopher James Karabinos Jr. (2003)
Malicky family, Pleasant Mount, Pennsylvania
(From left) Scott Malicky (1999), Wade
Malicky (2008), Shane Malicky (2003),
Joseph Malicky
McBride family, Amesbury, Massachusetts
(From left) Matthew McBride (2009),
Douglas McBride (1974),
Collin McBride (2007)
Lawton family, Newtown, Pennsylvania
(From left) Brian Lawton (2007), Bob
Lawton (2005), Tom Lawton (1978), Perry
Lawton (2009), Patrick Lawton (2006)
Mannisto family, San Mateo, California
(From left) Daniel Mannisto (1965),
Max Mannisto (2009)
McCarthy family, Toms River, New Jersey
(From left) Arthur J. McCarthy Jr. (1965),
Arthur J. McCarthy III (1990)
Lubick family, DeForest, Wisconsin
(From left) Louie Thune (1954),
Kevin Lubick (2008)
Marron family, Andover, New Jersey
(From left) Luke Marron (2001), Kyle
Hatfield (2000), Jack Marron (2007), Russell
Marron (2003), Scott Carpenter (1984)
Meyer family, Santiago Canyon, California
(From left) David Robert Meyer (2008),
Robert Charles Meyer (1974)
17
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Eagle Scouting Is a Family Affair
Moore family, Dublin, Ohio
(From left) Scott Patrick Moore (1975),
Anne Moore, Alex Davis Moore (2004),
Patrick Evan Moore (2008)
Mosquera family, Warren, New Jersey
(From left) Christopher Mosquera (2006),
Dylan Mosquera, Kathy Mosquera,
Kelly Mosquera, Carlos Mosquera,
Matthew Mosquera (2009)
Myones family, Sugar Land, Texas
(From left) Zachary Roberts Myones (2007),
Barry Lee Myones (1969)
Pasquale family, Novi, Michigan
(From left) Michael Pasquale (2008), Kevin
Pasquale (2008), Eric Pasquale (2008)
Riggs family, Old Bridge, New Jersey
(From left) Corey Riggs (2005), Steven Scotti
(2009), Joseph Scotti (2006)
Sheffield family, Huntington Beach, California
(From left) Nathan Sheffield (1976),
Patrick Sheffield (2008)
Murphy family, Scranton, Pennsylvania
(From left) Patrick Murphy (2006),
James Murphy (1975),
James Murphy Moran (2008)
Pérez family, Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
(From left) Ernesto J. Pérez (2008), Luis R.
Pérez (1977), Luis I. Pérez (2008)
Sinopoli family, Willow Street, Pennsylvania
(From left) Cliff Sinopoli (1974), Joey
Sinopoli (2009), Bill Sinopoli (2003)
Murray family, Spokane, Washington
(From left) Dr. Stephen Paul Murray (1972),
Evan Robert Murray (2009),
Robert Burnett Murray (1946)
Platter family, Apple Valley, Minnesota
(From left) Nathan Platter (2008), Avery
Platter (2008), Weston Platter (2006),
Ben Platter (1975)
Sleasman family, Gansevoort, New York
(From left) Stephen Sleasman (2005), Patrick
Sleasman (2007), Timothy Sleasman (2009)
18
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Sutter family, Modesto, California
(From left) Eli Bottom (2009), Rex Sutter
(1977), Fred Bottom (2007), Tom Sutter
(1937), Stuart Bottom (2006), Trevor
Morris-Sutter (2009), Ridge Sutter (1972),
Jon Bottom (2008)
Tainter family, Virginia Beach, Virginia
(From left) Adam Tainter (2007), Sandy
Tainter, Glenn Tainter (1975),
Glenn Earl Tainter (2005)
Valdyke family, Winter Springs, Florida
(From left) Wesley Valdyke (2009), John
Matthews (1952), C. Evan Valdyke (2005),
Brad Valdyke (1981)
Vogel family, Sudbury, Massachusetts
(From left) Jeffrey Adam Heckler (1997),
Mark Oliver Vogel (2009),
Danny Carl Vogel (1974)
Williams family, Georgetown, Texas
(From left) Scott Williams (1972), Devin Ramsay
Williams (2008), Rick Williams (1979)
Wong family, Sacramento, California
(From left) Eric Spencer Wong (2007),
Mark Spencer Wong (2006), Christopher
Spencer Wong (2003)
Yee family, San Mateo, California
(From left) Kyle Yee (2008), Colton Yee (2007)
Thorp family, Vassar, Michigan
(From left) Jeff Cousineau (2005), Ken
Thorp (1977), Cameron Thorp (2008),
Wayne Thorp (1993), David Thorp (1976),
Michael Thorp (1970)
Wheeler family, Fayetteville, North Carolina
(From left) Tedd Allen Wheeler (1980),
Zachary Philip Wheeler (2009),
Todd Michael Wheeler (1980)
Zauber family, Greensboro, North Carolina
(From left) Mark DiMuzio (2009),
David Zauber (1945)
Unger family, Willmar, Minnesota
(From left) Jack Unger (2008), William
Unger (1947), Kevin Unger (1978)
White family, Poway, California
(From left) Nathan White (2008), Moreno
White (1966), Kevin White (2002)
19
E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
Zubke family, St. Louis Park, Minnesota
(From left) Christopher Zubke (2008),
David Zubke (1973)
For God and Country
Many young men exchange their Scout uniforms for fatigues, dress blues, or battle dress uniforms.
The National Eagle Scout Association salutes Eagle Scouts who are currently serving in our nation’s armed forces.
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1] LTJG James George Angerman, U.S. Navy, is serving with the Seabee Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 in
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
2] Capt. Michael E. Ashton, U.S. Army, has been chosen as the 2008 Transportation Regiments Active Duty Officer of the
Year for his accomplishments in Balad, Iraq, for 15 months.
3] Spc. William K. Bernath, U.S. Army, is currently serving in Afghanistan.
4] Ensign Ian A. Brenner, U.S. Navy, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis,
Maryland. He is attending nuclear power school in Charleston, South Carolina.
5] Airman 1st Class Rustin S. Cochran, U.S. Air Force, is in financial management technical school at Keesler Air Force
Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.
6] Maj. Jason Crowe, U.S. Army, graduated from the Army’s Command and General Staff College in January 2009. The
curriculum includes large-unit war fighting and operational art at the battalion through division levels.
7] 1st Lt. Joshua Donathan, U.S. Marines, is currently stationed in Basrah, Iraq.
8] Sgt. Zach Ducker, U.S. Army, has served two Iraqi tours, and completed his final tour at Fort Bragg, North Carolina,
this year.
9] Ensign Thomas Patrick Gaffney Jr., U.S. Navy, received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from The Catholic University
of America in Washington, D.C. He is currently stationed at San Diego Naval Hospital in California.
10] 2nd Lt. Karl W. Heine, U.S. Army, received a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering with a focus on aviation systems and
a minor in terrorism studies from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. He is currently assigned to Fort
Rucker, Alabama, attending helicopter flight training.
11] Lance Cpl. Joshua Holser, U.S. Marines, is currently stationed in Al Asad, Iraq.
12] Pfc. Aaron A. Johnson, U.S. Army, is attending Civilian Affairs Liaison School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
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E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
13
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14
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15
16
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13] 2nd Lt. Paul J. Kelly IV, U.S. Marines, received a
Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice, magna cum
laude with honors, from the Citadel, the Military College
of South Carolina in Charleston.
14] 2nd Lt. Kyle Harrison Love, Michigan National Guard,
is currently attending flight school at Fort Rucker,
Alabama, training to fly Chinook helicopters.
15] 2nd Lt. Ronald V. Ludwick, U.S. Army, received a
Bachelor of Science degree in economics and engineering
from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.
He is currently assigned at Fort Hood, Texas.
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16] MM3/SS Dustin Miller, U.S. Navy, is serving on the USS Nebraska submarine based in Washington State at Bangor
Submarine Base.
17] 2nd Lt. Ryan G. Moon, U.S. Army, received a bachelor’s degree in business management, summa cum laude, from
Norwich University, Military College of Vermont in Northfield, Vermont.
18] Seaman David C. Munns, U.S. Coast Guard, is serving on the USCG Morgenthau, based in Alameda, California.
19] Pfc. Matthew R. Nowicki, Army National Guard, completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and has been
deployed to his unit in Appleton, Wisconsin.
20] Pfc. Andrew Steger, U.S. Marines, has completed basic training and is serving with the Marine Reserves in San
Antonio, Texas.
21] Col. Rick Whitman, U.S. Army, was recently recalled from retirement to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Preserve Your Memories of Scouting
by Janice Babineaux
As we approach the 100th Anniversary
of the Boy Scouts of America, it is a
perfect time to reflect on the history of
the BSA. A time to celebrate and honor
a truly remarkable movement. But
what makes up that history? What
should be the subject of our review?
The history of our great movement
does not comprise just “signature
events” dotting a 100-year timeline,
but is also a collection of individual
experiences. They are experiences that,
when rolled together in the aggregate,
have served to shape and bring to life a
world-changing movement.
Some of those individual experiences
are profound, such as saving the life of
a fellow Scout as he nearly drowned
learning to swim in a creek, or deciding
for the first time, after a day of hiking
nature trails, that God does exist and
He plays an important role in each of
our lives.
Other individual experiences are more
common, but nevertheless powerful. Like
the camaraderie of enjoying that first
pineapple upside-down cake you and
your buddies successfully cooked in that
crusty old Dutch oven. Or still feeling
a little frightened, even though you’ve
heard the same “ghost story” told around
the campfire 15 times.
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E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
The history of the BSA is truly within each
of us, and the National Scouting Museum
would like to preserve that history for
future generations. That is where you can
help. Share with us your memories of
Scouting and what it has meant to you. In
other words, tell us your stories! As a part of the museum’s Oral History
Project, we’ve created a permanent archive
to make sure your moments in history
are never lost. There are many ways you
can share your stories. Please contact Gail
Mayfield, curator assistant, at 800-3033047 or [email protected] to hear
the available options.
Help us celebrate the history of Scouting
in America. Tell us your stories!
Janice Babineaux is the executive director
of the National Scouting Museum.
In Cherished Remembrance
Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, taught Scout
trailblazers to make a simple trail sign, a circle with a dot in
the middle, to indicate that they had gone home. The following
Eagle Scouts blazed many trails for us to follow, and now they, too,
have gone home.
Nicholas T. Baker
Bristol, Rhode Island
Eagle: 2004
Death: April 23, 2007
Norman Lawrence
Aurora, Illinois
Eagle: 1952
Death: May 25, 2009
Daniel Sakai
Castro Valley, California
Eagle: 1990
Death: March 20, 2009
George B. Blair III
Grosse Point Park,
Michigan
Eagle: 1963
Death: February 10, 2009
Holden Taylor Ledbetter
Reidsville, North Carolina
Eagle: 2007
Death: February 27, 2009
Donald “Si” Simons, Capt.
USN (Ret)
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Eagle: 1959
Death: October 24, 2008
Richard A. Copland
Redding, California
Eagle: 1937
Death: February 2, 2009
1st Lt. Donald McGlothlin
Lebanon, Virginia
Eagle: 1997
Death: November 16, 2005
Living Memorials
In memory of Kristopher Sean
Eyolfson, from father Michael
Just as local councils do, the National Eagle Scout Scholarship Endowment accepts
tax‑deductible contributions in memory of deceased Eagle Scouts or in tribute to
Eagle Scout achievers.
Eyolfson and family, Rancho
Cordova, California.
Contributions may be sent to:
NESA Director, S222
Boy Scouts of America
1325 W. Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, Texas 75015‑2079
Please mark the envelope “Personal and Confidential,” make the check payable to NESA,
and mark the check:
“In memory of (name of person)” or “In tribute to (name of person).”
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E a g l e t t e r F a l l 2 0 0 9
In memory of Joe A. Michie, from
Dr. Richard J. Richardson, Pittsboro,
North Carolina.
In Brief
Keeping NESA Members Informed of Scouting’s News
Looking Back on Milestone
American Legion Honors Scout
Forty years ago this
summer, Eagle Scout
Neil Armstrong became
the first man to walk on
the moon, while former
Boy Scout Edwin E.
(Buzz) Aldrin looked on
from the lunar lander.
When Armstrong said,
“The Eagle has landed,”
he wasn’t kidding.
Brad P. Jencks of South Jordan, Utah, has been named the
American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year, one of many honors
Jencks has earned for his community involvement. He has
received four Presidential Volunteer Service Awards, the
Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and the Save Our
History National Honors Award from the History Channel.
Jencks’ many awards stem in part from his Eagle Scout
leadership service project, a mammoth undertaking to
restore a pioneer cemetery and research the stories of those
who are buried there. When Jencks discovered the eight-acre
Bingham City cemetery, weather and vandals had damaged
many of the hundreds of headstones; some were broken,
others were unreadable, and most were choked with
garbage, weeds, and sagebrush.
Besides NASA workers and the astronauts’ families, perhaps
the most interested observers that day were the 34,251
participants in the 7th National Scout Jamboree at Farragut
State Park in Idaho. During a jamboree arena show, Armstrong
beamed a message from space to the Scouts in attendance.
When that historic moment came, Scouts crowded around
whatever radios and televisions they could find, forgetting for
the moment the jamboree’s other attractions.
Jencks mobilized Scouts and community volunteers to clean
up the cemetery and repair or replace headstones. He also
photographed all the gravesites, recorded their location with
a GPS receiver, and entered the information into a computer
database. Since then, people from 38 states and 30 foreign
countries have identified ancestors in the restored cemetery.
Of the 12 men who’ve walked on the moon, 11 were Boy Scouts.
World War II Eagle Scout Finally Honored
It took almost 65 years, but Richard Ryan of Florence, South
Carolina, received his Eagle Scout badge in a ceremony last
spring. Ryan earned his badge during World War II but had
no time for a court of honor before he enlisted in the Navy.
“I didn’t get the ceremony as a teenager because so much
was going on in the country,” he told Florida Today.
Ryan’s son, Mark, himself an Eagle Scout, decided to right
that wrong by putting together the special ceremony in
conjunction with a local Boy Scout troop. Although Mark
Ryan planned the ceremony, he didn’t pin the Eagle badge
on his father’s chest. That honor went to his son, Joshua,
who became a third-generation Eagle Scout in 1993.
You may have
noticed the
“New NESA Life
Members” list
absent from these
pages. Beginning
with this issue of
Eagletter, that list
can be found at
www.NESA.org.
Go to: http://shop.scoutingmagazine.org/subscribe
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National Eagle Scout Association
Boy Scouts of America
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
www.NESA.org
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Change Service Requested
A Green ‘Handbook’
for a New Century
As the Boy Scouts of
America enters its second
century, it’s also entering a
new era of environmental
stewardship. The cover of
the 12th edition of the Boy
Scout Handbook, written by
Eagle Scout Robert Birkby
and released August 1, was
printed on mixed-source
stock that contains at least
30 percent recycled wood
or fiber.
The new book’s interior
pages were printed on
100-percent post-consumer
recycled stock—paper
made from magazines, newspapers, and office waste collected
through recycling programs. The gas used in the paper-making
process was produced from the decomposition of waste in
a landfill, a green energy source that substantially reduces
greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the waste paper was
de-inked without the use of chlorine, a toxic chemical that can
pollute waterways.
The paper’s production has been tracked from forest
to printer by the Forest Stewardship Council. This
organization works to ensure that forests are managed
in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial,
and economically viable way. In addition to the Forest
Stewardship Council, the new handbook has been certified
by the Chlorine Free Products Association and by EcoLogo,
North America’s largest, most respected environmental
standard and certification program.
Boy Scout Rank Requirements
Get Centennial Update
The BSA is updating requirements for Boy Scout advancement
as it prepares to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. The changes,
while relatively minor, demonstrate an emphasis on
important new skills.
For Tenderfoot and Life, Scouts must use the EDGE model
(explain, demonstrate, guide, enable) to teach others.
For First Class, Scouts must demonstrate Leave No Trace
principles on outings. For Star, Life, and Eagle, Scouts can
now use the troop webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer
as leadership positions.
The changes also include a new requirement that harkens
back to Scouting’s earliest days: For Second Class, a Scout
must earn an amount of money agreed to by him and his
parents and save at least 50 percent of it. (Decades ago,
Second Class candidates had to “earn and deposit at least
one dollar in a public bank.”)
Complete details of the new rank requirements are available
online at http://scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/BoyScouts
/AdvancementandAwards/2010RankUpdates.aspx.
Chief Scout Executive Keeps Promise
It’s not every day that the Chief Scout Executive shows up
at an Eagle Scout court of honor, but that’s what happened
last April in Kahuku, Hawaii. Chief Scout Executive Bob
Mazzuca, himself an Eagle Scout, had challenged Life Scout
Brad McMillan to finish his Eagle Scout service project—and
promised to attend McMillan’s court of honor if he did.
After McMillan passed his Eagle Scout board of review, he
wrote to Mazzuca, reminding him of the promise he’d made.
And so Mazzuca traveled to Hawaii for the ceremony.
“There are a couple of lessons here,” Mazzuca told the
Honolulu Advertiser. “First of all, it’s important to keep your
promises, and, second, it’s important to remember what you
say to young people. They are listening.”