We have an Eagle Scout in the family. Thomas did his Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Sunday, November 6, 2016 starting at 2 PM at Georgetown First United Methodist Church.
Board Members Present: Dr. Ray Wechman (former SM of Troop 215 and Chair person of the Eagle Review Board), Cyndi Hanes (mother of Eagle Scout and Troop Eagle Guide), Linda Golebiewski (mother of Eagle Scout), Charlie Mifflin (Troop COR & Eagle Scout).
Dr Ray Wechman and Thomas after Eagle Court of Honor
Thomas finished up his paper work for the Eagle packet on Monday October 24. He finished his Eagle Project on May 15, but he wanted to make sure he did the write up well, so he took some time getting it finished. On Tuesday October 25, he had his Scoutmaster Conference by ASMs Wagner and Walrod. On Wednesday October 26, I got signature on the Eagle Scout Rank Application from Thomas, me as his Unit Leader, and our Committee Chair, Mr. Cleland. On Thursday October 27, I got a missing signature from Mr Heltzel, who is President of the Food Pantry and the Eagle Mentor for Thomas for the project that he completed.
On Friday morning, October 28, I took the signed Eagle Application to Mr Ferrin in Lexington to have him check and review the Eagle Application. He looked at it for only a second, and showed that I was missing a signature from the BlueGrass Council Office. So I drove to the Council Office to get Mr. Cook to check the application. He helped me correct a few of the dates on the application. The council records had to be correct for the merit badges that were written on the Eagle Application, and for the dates of leadership served in the troop after his Life Scout BOR. After everything was checked off, George signed the form, and I drove back to Mr. Ferrin's house to drop it off.
By October 31st, I received confirmation that the board was now possible, and by the 3rd of November, it was set. Thomas would have his board of review on Sunday November 6. The review took place only 10 days after I dropped off the application.
It was kind of stressful to get everything done. By dropping off the application while Thomas was in school, I assumed some of the responsibility that Thomas should have done. Even though 5 other scouts from Troop 215 have gotten Eagle Scout in 2016, this is the first time I've been this much involved in the process.
The Eagle Trail is a huge adventure. It starts even before the scout joins a Boy Scout Troop since one of the questions on the Eagle Application is about the Arrow of Light Award. If the Scout earned the Arrow of Light Award, it was earned as a Webelos Scout. Every rank advancement date had to be known for the application, and every merit badge earned with the date that it was earned must also be on the application.
A troop that doesn't have a good Advancement Chair would have a difficult time keeping up with everything that a Scout needs for his Eagle Award. Our Troop has strong leadership in the committees, and for that I am not only thankful, I'm spoiled!
Thomas is a 12th grader. He is 17 years, 5 months, and 2 days old as of the date he earned his Eagle Award. At age 18, a Scout can no longer advance toward the Eagle Rank.
This past Saturday evening, the day before the Eagle Board of Review, Thomas filled all the missing camping trips that he attended in his Scout book. He camped 107 nights with our Scout troop and with the Order of the Arrow before he became an Eagle Scout. For summer camp, he went to Camp Crooked Creek, Camp McKee, Camp Michaels for NYLT while the rest of the troop was at Camp Friedlander, he went to Philmont while the troop went to Camp McKee 2 years ago, and last year he was in the high adventure sailing at Camp Roy C. Manchester while the rest of the troop did the normal summer camp at Roy C. He slept in several caves, he slept in the USS Silversides Submarine in Muskegon Michigan, slept in the USS Yorktown battleship in Patriots Point, and many smaller campouts in between.
Scouting is not about camping, and it's not even about earning the Eagle Award. Scouting is about learning leadership skills while at the same time learning good citizenship, learning how to serve other people, and having a good time while doing all of it. This was as long a trail for Dad as it was for Thomas, but I am the happiest man in the world to have been able to see him as he traveled this trail and traveled with him on a lot of it. You are missing out if your only involvement in scouting is dropping your son off at the door when the meeting starts.
I'm glad I still have another son who has not yet earned the Rank of the Eagle. He is close, but not there yet. My youngest son, Tyler, is a Life Scout, but his Eagle Trail is a little bit different than my oldest sons Trial to Eagle. Tyler will get his Eagle Rank probably by age 15, and his involvement in scouting will have him working more with the Order of the Arrow, Kawida Lodge. Thomas was the Awards Committee Chairperson this past year. Starting next year, Tyler will be the Drum Team Chair, and will at the same time be the Vice Chief of Tecumseh Chapter, as well as a member of the Elangomat Committee.
Something sad to note is that on the same day that I helped Thomas fill in his camping nights in his Scout Book, an 11 year old Scout from a Boy Scout Troop in Louisville was camping with his troop in Red River Gorge. My boys did some backpack camping there 2 weekends ago. This scout went to his tent after supper, and while he was resting, an 18 inch diameter limb from a tree fell on his tent. He died immediately.
When we talk to Scouts about First Aid, we tell them that it is usually the adults that will need first aid on camping trips. I feel horrible for the scouts who will live with this death for the rest of their lives, and for the family of the Scout who passed away. It was a horrible accident, and nothing that a troop could be prepared to face.
Out of all the boys who start in Scouting, very few scouts make it to Eagle Award. It is a difficult trail to follow. I am not an Eagle Scout, and I'm happy to have our first Eagle Scout in this side of the family. If I had the opportunity to travel this trail again from the beginning with Thomas, or in other words start over with him as a 7 year old, I would say ABSOLUTELY! WITHOUT HESITATION!! I would start over in a heart beat. It was a great journey, and it will continue on past the Eagle Award for Thomas. He wants to be involved in the troop throughout college.
I know I will never have the years back where my boys were growing up, but I haven't miss out on anything! I have been there every step of the way, and for that I am the happiest father and Scoutmaster that you have ever met!
The Eagle Review Board
Thomas and the current and former Scoutmaster of Troop 215
Baker Family
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