Boy Scout Troop 2 celebrated four of its members on Saturday for reaching the highest rank in Scouting with an Eagle Scout Court Of Honor: Noah Boone, Andrew Conte, Liam Frey and Ayden Hanlon.
Nationally, only 4 percent of the boys who begin as Cub Scouts make it to Eagle rank. They must advance through six early ranks, complete at least 21 merit badges, take on a community service project and serve six months in a troop leadership position. Even once the project is completed, there can be months of additional outreach to the community. “A Scout needs to be persistent,” Conte told the gathering of parents and friends in attendance at the gathering, which was held at the First Presbyterian Church. “Without persistence, we wouldn’t be here.”
Boone, who is now a freshman a Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in aeronautical engineering, designed and directed the building of five butterfly boxes for the Essex County Environmental Center. The Environmental Center uses uses the boxes to grow New Jersey native plants in its butterfly education tent, a place for Essex County residents to learn about butterfly species.
Conte, a senior at Verona High School, built three arbored benches and two planters for an outdoor courtyard at St. Joseph’s Healthcare and Rehab Center in Cedar Grove. He chose a design that would provide shade in an otherwise sun-drenched courtyard and built them at a height suitable for both standing people and people in wheelchairs. Conte plays baritone for the Verona Marching Maroon and White, and recently played the male lead in the Spotlight Players’ fall production, “A Murder is Announced.”
Frey, who is currently studying kinesiology at The University of Scranton, built four Learning Garden boxes for the Essex County Environmental Center. The boxes will be a home for seed-to-harvest gardening, pollinator plants for bees and butterflies, and plants needed for gardening classes. Frey is a second-generation lifelong resident of Verona who was a captain of the VHS varsity baseball team. He also played football and was a member of VHS’ 2019 state championship team.
Hanlon designed and built a pedestrian footbridge over a small stream leading to the Peckman River behind F.N Brown school. He identified a safe and accessible pathway over the stream, drafted plans that had to be approved by township authorities, and led the team of Scouts who built the footbridge. He plans on pursuing physical therapy as his major in college.
Mayor Christopher Tamburro praised the four young men as “wonderful examples” for the community. “I hope,” he added, “that this ceremony only marks the beginning of your service to this community.”
