FF_111419

8 | November 14, 2019 | the frankfort station news
frankfortstationdaily.com
Scouts celebrated with Eagle Court of Honor ceremony
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
7
The members of Frankfort
Boy Scout Troop 270
are well-known throughout
the community. From
running the Frankfort Fall
Fest parking lot to hosting
Winter on the Green
events to coordinating
food drives for the Frankfort
Food Pantry, these
Scouts are always ready to
help in any way they can.
On Nov. 3, Michael
Clarkin, Alex Desjardins,
Rory Hanlon, Jake Leonard,
Matthew Lexow and
Justin Murray of Troop
270 participated in an
Eagle Court of Honor ceremony
commemorating
each young man’s achievement
of attaining Scouting’s
highest rank of Eagle
Scout.
Jim Hurley, who serves
as Scoutmaster of Troop
270 along with Arnaud
Desjardins, explained that
the event was a milestone
for the group.
“This past year, we
reached 100 Eagles, so
now we’re above 100,”
Hurley said, adding he was
grateful to all the adults
who help run the program.
“These boys have done a
fantastic job supporting
the community through
different service projects,
Eagle projects and food
drives. I’m really, really
proud of them.”
Troop 270 Committee
Chairman Chuck Rudy
said he was also proud of
the new Eagle Scouts especially
because only “3
percent of people who start
out as Scouts make it to the
Eagle rank nationally.”
He added, “You look at
the situation here where
we had five in the same
den – from Cub Scouts
Justin Murray smiles as his father, Jim Murray, shares
funny stories about his journey to becoming an Eagle
Scout.
on up – it’s very, very
unique.”
Along with participating
in group campouts,
volunteer projects and
earning all the required
merit badges, becoming
an Eagle Scout required
each young man to develop,
plan and execute his
very own service project.
Rudy explained that after
the project is approved by
various Scout leaders, the
real work begins.
“They have to plan it,
collect contributions, collect
materials, coordinate
the project with the troop
– to get volunteers from
the troop – and then actually
showing up the dayof,
directing everybody
and making sure the project
gets completed,” Rudy
said. “Afterwards, they
make sure the beneficiary
is happy with the project.
Each one of these Scouts
that are receiving the Eagle
recognition today did
their own project which all
benefit something in the
community.”
When he developed his
Eagle project, Michael
Clarkin wanted to give
back to his church, Frankfort
United Methodist.
“I built a fire pit for my
Frankfort Boy Scout Troop 270 members (left to right) Jake Leonard, Matthew Lexow,
Rory Hanlon, Alex Desjardins, Michael Clarkin and Justin Murray participate in the
Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Nov. 3 at Hickory Creek Middle School in Frankfort.
Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
Larry Hanlon (left), of Frankfort, places the Eagle Scout neckerchief on his son Rory
Hanlon.
church,” he said. “It was a
circular fire pit with four
benches around it. We also
installed a firewood rack
behind the back of the
church. I did this because
my church has brought me
so many good memories
throughout my childhood,
and I wanted to give back.
So, I thought it would be
nice to build them something.”
During the Eagle Court
of Honor ceremony – emceed
by Troop 270 member
Brad Rudy – each honoree
had a mentor speak about
their journey to become
Eagle Scouts. Many of the
Scouts’ fathers referenced
the great experiences their
sons had at Philmont Scout
Ranch, and newly named
Eagle Scout Jake Leonard
counts his adventures there
as some of his favorite
memories.
“It’s a camp, and they
basically send you off with
whatever supplies you
need for two weeks, and
you go off by yourself and
they see you back at the
end of two weeks,” Leonard
said. “The last trek we
did was a mountain one,
and we were able to climb
six of the peaks there.”
The ceremony also featured
a poem read by each
Eagle Scout’s mother, as
well as words from the
honorees themselves.
Scoutmaster Jim Hurley
led the presentation of Eagle
Awards and Pastor Joe
Rajdak delivered an opening
prayer.
The parents were also
honored during the ceremony
for the ways they
helped their children reach
this milestone. Bill Clarkin
– Michael Clarkin’s father
– was proud of his son and
all the Scouts for reaching
their goal of becoming
Eagles.
“It’s a culmination of
10 years of work,” Bill
Clarkin said. “Five of
these kids started as Bear
Scouts and Cub Scouts
and have been together
10 plus years. They’ve all
done countless campouts,
countless summer camps
and are really lifelong
friends. It’s been a great
experience for them. It really
teaches them lifelong
skills. An Eagle Scout is
something that you’ll put
on your resume for the rest
of your life.”