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Troop 99 adds four new Eagle Scouts
Several Eagle Scouts were recently honored during Court of Honor events conducted by Boy Scouts of America, Greencastle Troop 99.
Honored were Andrew Fajt, son of Jason and Beth Fajt, Tyler Hopper, son of Bobby and Cami Hopper, Henry Massing, son of Robert and Amanda Massing, and Trey Patterson, son of Jeff and Michele Patterson.
Accomplishing the rank of Eagle Scout is historically achieved by two percent of Scouts. The unique aspect of Fajt, Hopper, Massing and Patterson is they were all from the same den and achieved the rank within months of each other.
“To have this many scouts achieve this prestigious rank from one den is incredible” commented Scoutmaster Tom Standers.
Fajt and Hopper joined Cub Scouts as Tigers (first-graders) and were soon joined by Massing and Patterson who joined as Wolves (second grade).
The four obtained the rank of Eagle their senior year of high school after acquiring both required and elective merit badges. The badges include experiences in Wilderness Survival, Emergency Preparedness, Citizenship, Community Service and Physical Fitness.
During a Court of Honor, fellow Eagle Scout Matthew Fajt challenged the new Eagle Scouts stating in part: “The final responsibility of an Eagle Scout is service. The Eagle Scout extends a helping hand to those who still toil up Scouting’s trail, just as others helped him in his climb to Eagle. The performance of the daily Good Turn takes on a new meaning when he enters a more adult life of continuing service to others. The Eagle stands as protector of the weak and helpless. He aids and comforts the unfortunate and the oppressed. He upholds the rights of others while defending his own. He will always ‘Be prepared’ to put forth his best.”
The Eagle Scout rank is obtained after leading a community service project and writing a paper about the scout’s life purpose and ambitions.
Fajt built bat boxes along the Peoples Pathway between Albin Pond Road and Deer Meadow Primary School for his Eagle project. The project was completed to provide bat habitat for a natural control of disease such as West Niles spread by mosquitos.
“Headley Hardware was extremely generous and essentially donated all building materials for the project,” Fajt commented.
For Hopper’s Eagle project, he created and installed new signs that identify trees along the path along the walking trail at Tzouanakis Intermediate School. The signs display QR codes that connect the walker to a website for educational information about the tree for students and the public alike. Hopper also cleaned up the trails to make them safe to travel, re-mulched the playground, and replaced a birdhouse.
Several businesses and individuals contributed to the project, including Farmers Insurance, Papa John’s Pizza, O’Brien Family with heavy equipment, John Perkins with heavy equipment and supplies, Principal John Strube and Tim Jedele.
Massing’s Eagle project was to improve the parking area for the People Pathways’ trailhead along Manhattan Road. Massing coordinated with volunteers from DePauw University to design a larger parking lot with an expanded gravel base, parking curbs and flower beds with native flowers. Massing funded the project by coordinating donations from private individuals.
Patterson built and installed 12 Eastern Blue boxes at the DePauw Nature Park for his Eagle project. Working closely with DNP Ecologist Vanessa Fox, Patterson also cleaned out, removed and relocated existing blue bird boxes throughout the 520-acre park, which students use for studying bluebirds for their classes. Patterson secured and fully funded his Eagle project via a cash donation from Greencastle Elks Lodge 1077.
For more information about the Boy Scouts of America Troop 99, persons may contact Scoutmaster Tom Standers.
Troop 99 meets at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays at the Sherwood Christian Church, Greencastle.