By Louise Haight
The journey to Eagle is a challenge that comes with a dedicated commitment to do your duty to God, to country, to your fellow Scouts, and to mankind in general. You are a marked man, and you will live up to your obligations to bring honor to yourself and to your brother Scouts.
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 31, Hudson Valley Council, Heritage District, sponsored by Montgomery Fire Department has the distinct honor of introducing five Eagle Scouts who have just earned the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting. On October 5, in a solemn and joyous ceremony held at Brick Reformed Church in Montgomery, Christopher Gironda, Matthew Grogan, Spencer Lee, Thomas Wutz, and Sean Zupko dedicated their hearts and hands to the common good.
Matthew Grogran always knew when it came time for his Eagle Scout project that he wanted to do something for the veterans, that also involved his Faith. Matthew led the troop in making 400 Ranger Rosaries, 200 of them were sent to Walter Reed VA Hospital and an additional 200 were hand delivered to Castle Point VA Hospital, where Matthew enjoyed being able to sit and visit with the veterans. Scouting has taught Matthew much more than starting fires in any weather condition and rendering first-aid to himself and others. It has taught him leadership, self-reliance, and to Be Prepared.
Also, as a Den Chief, Matthew has assisted in more than 20 Cub Scouts transition to scout troops. Proudly, two of these scouts were his younger siblings, Caitlin and Mark. Matthew thanks especially his scouting leaders and friends, Fr. Karl Lindblad at Castle Point, Mr. John Olsen, his beneficiary and mentor, and Fr. Tom Colucci for blessing the Rosaries.
Spencer Lee enjoyed his last years as a Boy Scout with Troop 31, and he thanks his parents, scout leaders, and of course, fellow scouts who never stopped supporting him. Boy Scouts helped teach Spencer the importance of helping others and what to do in difficult situations. He also learned how important Boy Scouts could be to the community, through different community projects and Eagle Scout projects. Spencer proudly completed his Eagle Scout project for Most Precious Blood Church in Walden, and the parishioners are most grateful to this fine young man, for his dedication, leadership, responsibility, and his faith.
Thomas Wutz knew exactly what his Eagle project would be after an educational and enlightening BSA trip to Gettysburg. He wished that his project would honor the memory of our Veterans of the Civil War.
With the help of Chief Jeff Holmes, Thomas was directed to the Wallkill Valley Cemetery where the Grand Army of the Republic monument stands, having been dedicated to all local soldiers who fought in the Civil War, but had fallen into disrepair. His plan included debris clean up, cleaning of the monument and headstones, painting and organizing cannonballs, and the restoration of the flag pole with a properly displayed American Flag. Thomas especially thanks Mr. Brant Winum, caretaker of the Wallkill Valley Cemetery and Thomas’s benefactor.
Sean Zupko knew exactly what his Eagle project would be, because even before he became a scout, his Grannie would take him to visit the scout office. He decided to rededicate the garden at his church, that originally had been dedicated to his maternal grandfather, to honor both of them. He decided to renovate it by completely tearing out the old one and installing a new garden with a walkway, plants, and benches. He thanks Mike Miller for his machine, Manza Family Farms for plants, Messco for lumber and Devitt’s for pavers, and of course, the leaders and scouts of Troop 31, without whom he would not be the person he is today.
Christopher Gironda, with the approval of Mr. Rodney Winchell being his beneficiary, knew years ago his plan for Eagle Project, and that was to beautify the Town of Montgomery’s Town Hall Landscape, where his mom worked. Chris would visit his mom at work, and he was saddened at the large area of dead grass, dry ground, and lack of pretty flowers or shrubbery. He knew the visiting community deserved something brighter than that dreary sight to greet them, but most importantly, deep in his little boy’s loving heart, he wanted his mom to be greeted by the beautiful gifts of nature and color; after all, he knew nature’s beauty was an attraction that no one could miss, and why not stop and smell the roses?
Anthony Trapini excavated the entire lawn and prepared it for him, and with the help of scouts, leaders, family, and friends they built two new benches, replaced wood on pre-existing benches and picnic table, and added white stone and plants. A grateful heart goes to: Taylor Recycling, Manza Family Farms, Belly Flop Industries, Scotts Corner Hardware, Do it Best, Cornwall Coal and Supply, Twin Ponds Greenhouses, and Messco. Chris wants to continue to help and teach younger scouts to build traits and skills that he has learned during his scouting journey, so they, too, can achieve the rank of Eagle.
Collectively, the new Eagles graciously thanked all the leaders and Scouts of Troop 31 and to all the speakers who generously gave their time to help celebrate their Eagle Court of Honor, and to the men and women who honored the new Eagles by giving them the Eagle Charge: Deacon Peter Haight, Connor Grogan, Julian and Steven Aviles, Thomas J. Wutz, Sr., and Cori Zupko.
Thank you to Pastor Elder, Karsten and to the Brick Reformed Church for their use of their church, and to their beneficiaries who helped make the projects possible, Town of Montgomery Town Hall, Walter Reed and Castle Point VA Hospital, Mr. Olsen, Most Precious Blood Church, Mr. Brant Winum and the Wallkill Valley Cemetery, King of Kings Lutheran Church.
Eagles do their best each day to make their training an example, their rank and their influence count strongly for better Scouting and for better citizenship in their troop, in their community, and in their contacts with other people. To this they pledge their sacred honor. When the Eagles pledge their sacred honor, they are sealing their eternal loyalty to the code of the Eagle Scout, with the words that closed the Declaration of Independence: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
May you always have an angel at your side.