|
By Jane Reed
When President Gerald Ford died, so important were his days as an Eagle Scout in Grand Rapids, Michigan that the ushers at the Trinity United Methodist Church, where he attended Scout meetings as a teen, were uniformed Scouts from his own Troop 215.
A cordon of Eagle Scouts and an Eagle Scout Honor Guard greeted the family as they returned home to downtown Grand Rapids. Over 5,000 Scouts and leaders of all ages lined the processional route on the day of the service. The saying of the day was, “once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout.”
Some towns are lucky to have one or two. Some towns don’t have any. Cuba’s Troop 463 has had eight since 2005, and nine Eagle Scouts altogether, which is amazing.
Why does Cuba, with a population of 3,700, have such a convocation of Eagle Scouts in a troop of only 15 young men? Is it inspiring Scout leaders, young men with good characters, or parents who motivate and support their kids? The answer is yes, yes, and yes.
According to Cindy Boda, a Cuba Scout leader from 2002 to 2006, “I believe that active parents, leaders, and motivated boys have made this happen. Also, it is so much easier once someone breaks the way.”
For Cuba Troop 463, it was Robert Stewart, a transfer from a Rolla troop, who was their first Eagle Scout in 2002. Sadly, he passed away in 2006 due to a car accident in St. James. He was a groundbreaker and an inspiration for the troop.
After he went through the process to become an Eagle Scout, the leaders and other Scouts had a better idea of the process involved. Every troop must also have a sponsor, and Knights of Columbus fulfills that need for Troop 463.
For a young man to become an Eagle Scout it is a long path filled with specified tasks, planning, perseverance, and leadership. He must complete 21 merit badges to earn the rank of Eagle. Twelve of the badges are required, and nine are elective badges. There are over 100 badges to choose from in various areas.
Age is also a factor. An Eagle candidate must be between the ages of 13 and 18. Because the road to Eagle is a long one, parents and troop leaders must be supportive and willing to spend the time to help Scouts maintain their progress.
After obtaining the 21 merit badges at the appropriate age, one more major challenge still awaits each prospective Eagle Scout: He must accomplish a significant service project, which is a multi-step process that shows leadership and benefits his community. He must think of an idea, which he puts in writing and submits to his troop. If it is approved by the troop, his project workbook is signed, and he moves on to the charitable nonprofit or governmental organization that the project will benefit. Once the organization approves the project, the candidate must go before the Osage District Eagle Board for final approval, before he can begin to carry out his project.
Most projects need funds, materials, and volunteers. When all of the preparation is complete, the actual task is completed, as is the accompanying documentation. The Scout must then fill out and submit his application for Eagle Scout to the Greater St. Louis Area Council Advancement Department. He must also submit his reference letters, merit badges, project workbook, and a statement of his life purpose and ambitions for approval by the department.
After his application is approved, the Scout picks up his Eagle Packet and takes it directly to the Osage Eagle Board and schedules a date for his final Board of Review. He shows up on the designated date to go through a review. It is a question/answer interview that is conducted by three to six adults. They discuss the process, requirements, and status of the Scout. Aspects of the project and the Scout’s character are open to the interview process.
If the Scout is successful, his application and project is approved. He must then resubmit his application back to the Greater St. Louis Council, and it is sent to Texas to be placed on the national registry of Eagle Scouts. Not only is the road to Eagle Scout one that requires action, but it is also one accompanied by a great deal of paperwork.
At this point, the Scout, his friends and family, and his troop can conduct a Court of Honor to award the Eagle Scout badge and conduct an appropriate ceremony and banquet.
On March 31 at Recklein Auditorium, Cuba had its first triple Court of Honor when Chris Boda, Verlin Boda, and T.J. Reeves all shared their ceremony. Chris Boda, who took over the troop for his wife Cindy in 2006, helped usher his own sons to completion of their Eagle rank. In keeping with the importance of the event, Representative Jason Smith and two Army representatives attended to present each of the Scouts a certificate of achievement and recognition on behalf of their respective groups.
Army Captain Matt Shaw urged the newly-pinned Eagle Scouts, “Get wrapped up in the values you have learned, not the badges that you have earned.” In his remarks, Eagle Scout Chris Boda gave advice to his fellow Scouts working on their service project: “Work hard every day and do your best.”
The Court of Honor is a solemn ceremony of oaths and contemplation, but it is also a joyous time for the Scout and his family to celebrate his accomplishments.
Even after attaining the high rank of Eagle, a Scout can continue to earn Palms until he is 18. He can earn a Palm by earning five merit badges. He can only apply for a Palm every three months, so he can only earn four Palms a year. The palms are earned in the following order: Bronze, Gold, and Silver.
In the local troop, Chip Lange has his Gold Palm. On March 31, the day of their Eagle Court of Honor, T.J. Reeves and Verlin Boda both had already gone on to earn their Bronze Palm.
Because of the qualities of planning and perseverance that it takes to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, that designation is held in esteem in the corporate, military, and academic world. Cindy Boda related an example of her son signing up for the Navy: “He was told that if he received his Eagle Scout rank, he would go up two classes in rank immediately and that his pay would also immediately increase to somewhere around $250 to $300.” She goes on to relate that Fortune 500 companies are more likely to give an Eagle Scout an interview, and that it is a real plus on a college application.
Cuba’s Eagle Scouts are in good company, and who knows how high they will soar in the future. They have shown that they can achieve great things with the help of their leaders, parents, and community.
|
