Even the Dallas Cowboys saluteManville’s newest Eagle Scouts

LIVING IN MANVILLE

By:Mary Ellen Zangara
   A crowd of 150 joined Matthew Nile and Michael Chabra as they received their Eagle Scout Awards, the highest rank in Boy Scouting, Sunday during a Court of Honor ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign War Post 2290. were awarded .
   The Scouts from Troop 193 were joined by their parents, families, fellow Scouts and leaders, friends and members of the community as well as special dignitaries, including Mayor Angelo Corradino, Councilman Ted Petrock, Police Chief John Petrovic and Assemblyman Kip Bateman Jr. (R-Branchburg), VFW Vice Commander Jim Wisor, Fred Gorbatuk, also of the VFW and the Charter Representative for Troop 193. School principals Don Frank and Dr. James Brunn also attended.
   Matthew and Michael’s fellow Scouts began the program with the presentation of colors, followed by Jim O’Reilly playing the national anthem.
   Scoutmaster Jim Kelly introduced the honored guests and began the ceremony.
   "We are here to honor Matthew Nile and Michael Chabra for advancing to the rank of Eagle. Both young men have worked very hard to reach this goal," he said.
   Past Scoutmaster Mark Gregor read the Voice of the Eagle. "When a boy becomes a Boy Scout, there is within him something that we call the spirit of Scouting. This single lighted candle before you represents that spirit."
   Matthew and Michael recited the Scout law as they lit the twelve candles before them.
   "Matthew’s and Michael’s Scouting career began nine years ago as Tiger Cubs. This was the beginning of the trail which soon began their Scouting career," Mr. Gregor continued. "They learned that Scouting offered fun and adventure something that both of them wanted to pursue."
   Both Michael’s and Matthew’s parents were called up to join their sons for the presentation of the Eagle Awards. Each boy’s mother pinned the Eagle Scout Award on their uniform and they were officially Eagle Scouts.
   Michael and Matthew presented their mothers with miniature versions of their award, they had done throughout their achievement of other Scout ranks.
   Their fathers presented the Scouts with their new Eagle neckerchiefs and proudly put the new one around their neck. Joe Green read a poem about an Eagle Scout.
   Assemblyman Kip Bateman gave his congratulations to the Scouts.
   "It’s a real honor to be here this afternoon to play a small role in this great accomplishment," Mr. Bateman said. "You should feel extremely proud today and we challenge you to take what you learned in scouting and look forward to become productive citizens of this community and the state."
   Mr. Bateman presented both boys with copies of a proclamation passed by the New Jersey Assembly.
   More presentations followed by Mayor Corradino, VFW Post 2290, and the Manville-Hillsborough Elks Youth Activities Club. All presenters congratulated the Scouts and presented them with certificates and proclamations.
   The new Eagles had a few words to say also. Matthew spoke first, saying "It is nice to have you all here at this ceremony. Dad, I did it.
   "I thank my Mom and my uncle who got me started in this, and Mike thanks for making this fun," Matthew said. He also thanked all the people involved in his Scouting years and all who helped him with his Eagle project.
   "It was a lot of hard work to get to this point, but it was a completely enjoyable experience," Michael said. "I am sure that in the future this experience will help me set and meet my goals for success in life. I would like to thank all the people here in attendance today for sharing this wonderful memory."
   Michael also thanked all those who were involved in his Scouting years and his Eagle project.
   The program for the ceremony listed the accomplishments of the two Scouts, beginning with their initiation as Tiger Cubs in 1993 and work towards higher ranks.
   Michael’s Eagle Scout project was to help his church Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox in Manville by clearing an area of wooded land in the rear of the church’s ceremony.
   Michael plans to stay involved with Scouting and he hopes that he can teach and help others through their trail to Eagle.
   Matthew’s Eagle project was to install a new sign and landscape in front of the Recreation Building. Despite having some difficulties along the way, Matthew was able to complete his project and felt this was a way he could repay the Recreation Department since he benefited from various programs they sponsored. Matthew plans on continuing in Scouting and using his new Eagle rank to help him for college and obtaining scholarships.
   Joe and Mary Green, Matthew’s parents, were very proud of their son. Mr. Green is one of the assistant Scoutmasters, and he said "I am very proud because it took ten years in the making. He worked hard on his projects which actually took a while to accomplish. I think it was well deserved of both of the boys. They have been together since Tiger Cubs and they’ve helped each other along, and if it weren’t for each other, they probably wouldn’t have achieved the rank that they are at now."
   "I think the Scouting program has really made Matt aware of that is happening in the world and that he can make a difference," Ms. Green said. "The Scouts have matured him and he has grown in many ways. I can’t think of anything better for your child than to sign him up for the Scouting program because it can make a big difference."
   Pat and Mike Chabra were very proud of their son, too.
   "Michael has done a lot of hard work and has had great perseverance and determination to achieve his end goal and we are all very proud of him," Ms. Chabra said.
   Mr. Chabra is also one of the assistant Scoutmasters and was naturally happy for his son.
   "I am very proud of the two boys they worked very hard over the years," he said. "I’ve known both since they entered kindergarten and I’ve watched them grow from little boys that needed everybody to hold their hand to young men that could stand on their own."
   On display in the back of the room, were congratulatory letters for the boys from around the country, including letters from President George W. Bush and Ms. Busg, and Vice-president Dick Cheney. Former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George (and Barbara) Bush wrote to congratulate Micahel, as did Sen. Jon Corzine, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, Somerset County Freeholders, Manville Recreation, American Legion and even the Dallas Cowboys.
Mary Ellen Zangara is a lifelong resident of Manville.