No. 19 Vol. 6
www.mypaperonline.com
June 2021
Eagle Scout Projects Benefit Resurrection Parish
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By Henry M. Holden agle Scout is the highest rank that can be attained in Scouts BSA (formerly the Boy Scouts of America). To achieve this status, one must be an active member of the Boy Scouts who has advanced through all of the previous ranks. All Eagle Scout requirements must be completed before the scout’s 18th birthday, and he must accomplish the tasks required of an Eagle Scout, including a large service project. Since its inception in 1911, only two percent of scouts have earned this rank, after a lengthy review process. With careful planning and diligence, he can accomplish the most sought-after award in scouting while still having fun. There are a total of over 100 merit badges in scouting. Thirteen of them are Eagle-required merit badges. There are time-in-rank requirements: Four months for Star, six months for Life, and six months for Eagle. One Resurrection Parish parishioner, seventeen-year old Patrick Williams, is a scout from Troop 50, in Randolph. His project is renewing the storage building (also known as the barn) behind the rectory, which serves as the main storage for many of the seasonal parish decorations and equipment. The building needs new flooring, doors, and windows to make it safe for continued use. Patrick has the 13 merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank, and 21 cumulatively. It is expected as Eagle Scout projects in the past have shown that Patrick’s project will benefit the parish for years to come. Patrick may have a genetic predisposition to scouting. His grandfather’s Richard Williams, and George Elsaesser, were both Eagle Scouts.
He also came to scouting a little later than most boys. Many boys start scouting in elementary school with the Cub Scouts. “I came to scouting when I was about 13,” said Patrick. “One of my good friends was a scout and he needed help with his project, so I helped him. I clicked with what he was doing right away. I thought it was very cool. I had friends in scouting who seem to be having a lot of fun with what they were doing. “I’ve met a lot of Eagle Scouts over the years, and they have shown a greater connectedness to family, friends, neighbors, the religious community.” Each Eagle Scout candidate will be assigned a person who has an expertise in the project (e.g., a carpenter) the scout is doing. “I don’t know whether I’d be able to do any of this without him,” said Patrick. “I’ve learned a lot from him. My entire plan is built around the advice he gave me,” “The Eagle Scouts that I have met personally have shown a great deal of character. I have seen these scouts who don’t seem to have a lot of hang-ups, or lots of things holding them down. They can find themselves in situations and get out of them. They are people who can face problems and keep going without breaking down and creating a hindrance for themselves. That is something you don’t often see.” As far as the future, Patrick said right now his plans are to get through his senior year in the fall. “I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do with the rest of my life at this point. I am planning on college after high school, but I am not sure which one. I’m not sure what I’m going to do in life, but I know that whatever I do will have continued on page 4
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