Troop 79 is proud of Staubach’s Eagle rank

On Nov.18, Troop 79 out of Berne held a Court of Honor.  Eighty-two merit badges were earned as well as five rank advancements.  Liam Hanley earned Life Scout, Jake Valachovic and Devin Longendyke earned Star Scout, and Ben Boone earned both his Tenderfoot rank and Second Class

Many hours of work and service go into earning each rank in Boy Scouts. When you are 12, you become a Boy Scout and begin your journey to Eagle Scout, which must be reached by 18. The ranks are Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star Scout, Life Scout, and Eagle Scout.

We all congratulated Joe Staubach who just passed his board and is now an Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout requirements are many: Be active for six months after achieving Life Scout; demonstrate you live by the Scout oath and law in your daily life; secure recommendations from parents, guardians, religious or educational leaders or employers, earn 21 merit badges of which the following are mandated: First Aid; Citizenship in the Community, Nation and World; Communication; Cooking; Personal Fitness; Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving; Environmental Science or Sustainability; Personal Management; Swimming, Hiking, or Cycling; Camping; and Family Life.

You must serve actively for six months in one of the following areas: patrol leader or other position in the troop, varsity Scout team, or venturing crew/ship. Next is a service project.  This must be approved by the leader and council.

You must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in completing the project. It must be helpful to any religious institution, school, or your community.  After many hours of work and planning and doing the project with the help from your fellow Scouts and parents and troop leaders, you must complete the Eagle Scout Board of Review.

Joe Staubach sat in front of five people and answered many questions about how being a Scout prepared him for life and helped him grow as a person.  We were all proud of him for earning his Eagle Scout.

In our troop, we have a nice wooden structure that has our names and they are placed under the rank we have earned. This helps us see that we have done good work but have a way to go to earn Eagle Scout.

The most fun part about Scouts is that we can do things with our friends such as camping, canoeing, and rock climbing. We also take trips and are planning to go to Gettysburg.  Every Scout plays a part in making these trips happen. We make plans for places to stay, food to buy, and the right equipment to bring. We set up car pools and figure what money will be needed.  By doing these jobs, we learn to be independent and resourceful.

Please remember to donate your cans and bottles to the recycling area outside the masonic lodge next to the Berne Post Office.  All the money collected goes directly to the scouts to help fund their paths to Eagle Scouts.

Editor’s note: Devin Longendyke is Troop 79’s public information officer.

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