On Saturday, June 2, 2018, eleven members of BSA Troop 533 were awarded Scouting’s highest rank—the Eagle Scout Award—at a special Court of Honor celebrating their years of hard work and effort.
Scouting parent Betsy Henry said, “We are so proud of all of these young men for putting in the hard work required to become Eagle Scouts. We are grateful for the dedication of their leaders in helping them achieve this honor.”
Spencer Anderson, Gavin DelHoyo, Dignan Getz, Andrew Gold, Nathaniel Henry, Jackson Mattingley, Ryan Neumiller, Matthew Ortega, Mikey Ortega, James Sheppard and Nathan Weidenhamer—all members of the Potomac Crossing Ward in Leesburg, Virginia—were excited to achieve this great milestone. Jason DelHoyo, who served as the Scoutmaster for six years, worked with all of the boys during their years in the Scouting program.
The Scouting experience culminates in a large scale Eagle project which challenges the boys to learn organizational and leadership skills, as well as provide a service for their community.
The boys’ Eagle projects were far-reaching and varied, including: building tent pads along the Appalachian trail, improvement projects at multiple Elementary schools, building raised garden beds for a local nursing home, a community blood drive, food drives, renovations at the Mobile Hope Center, and an effort to collect supplies to benefit Haitian refugees in Chile.
When asked what his favorite thing about Scouting was, Nathan Weidenhamer said, “I really have enjoyed lots of events throughout my Scouting adventure—getting my uniform the first day, memorizing the Scout Law for the first time, going on campouts with my friends—but the best part…finishing my Eagle!”
Fellow Scout, Jackson Mattingley jokingly answered, “Girls love a man in uniform.”
The Scouting experience for these young men doesn’t end with the Court of Honor. Scoutmaster Delhoyo said, “An Eagle Scout has the responsibility to make morally correct decisions for the rest of his life, and to be fit in both mind, body and spirit.”
The “Magnificent 11” as they are known in Troop 533, are certainly off to a great start.
~Contributed and compiled by Emily Gold, Chelsey Mattingly and Betsy Henry, Potomac Crossing Ward; Ashburn, Virginia Stake