By Mary Ellen Zangara Special Writer
After completing projects aimed at helping wildlife and middle school students, four Boy Scouts in Troop 186, sponsored by the Manville-Hillsborough Elks Lodge on Brooks Boulevard, were promoted to the rank of Eagle Scout, Saturday.
”They all worked very hard for this honor,” Scoutmaster Barry Bird said. “They earned it basically on their own with the support of the troop. Every one of the projects gave back to the community and benefited themselves, the community and the other boys in the troop.”
The Elks is the sponsor of the troop and the troop meets there on Tuesday nights.
Scouts Alex Dundon, Nicholas Perna, Michael DeCasperis and Collin Maxwell were honored at the evening ceremony attended by their fellow Scouts, leaders, families and friends.
The ceremony began with a flag ceremony by Scouts A.J. Holodinski, Tim Kwaak, James Sireci and Thomas Sireci followed by the Codes of Scouting from Scoutmaster Barry Bird. Joe DeLorenzo, Kevin Galli, Matt Marnell and Jason Rudich performed the Scout Oath and Law Rededication Ceremony.
Then the four Scouts took their Scout Oath.
Guest speakers for the ceremony included David Fredericks, one of Troop 186 Eagle Scouts, Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Holland, Jim Kurzenberger from the Old Dutch Parsonage and Jerry Machat a family friend of Collin Maxwell. Each spoke about one of the Eagle Scouts. “The Voice of the Eagle” slide show was presented and Mr. Bird read the History of the Eagle Scout Badge. Mr. Bird also spoke of the boys achievements.
”Alex Dundon joined the troop in February of 2001 after receiving the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouting highest award. Alex has earned 29 merit badges, eight more the he needed to earn Eagle. When Alex first joined the troop, he told us he did not need to work on merit badges since he had no plans on becoming and Eagle. We are glad that he changed his mind about that,” he said.
Alex, a student at Governor Livingston High School, held various positions in the troop of Buglers, Quartermaster, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader. Alex worked at the Boy Scout camp Mt. Allamunchy as a camp counselor for the past three years. He is also a member of the Order of the Arrow. For his Eagle project, Alex built mallard duck boxes at Ann Van Middleworth Park in Hillsborough. He made his own design since he could not find one for the mallard boxes.
For his Eagle project, Michael, a Hillsborough High School student, designed and built an observation blind so students at Auten Road Intermediate School could observe and study birds and other animals without disturbing them. He is the son of Steve and Donna DeCasperis.
”Michael DeCasperis also joined the troop in 2001 after earning the Arrow of Light,” Mr. Bird said. “Mike is another of our Scouts who took his time getting for the final rank of Eagle.”
But he was busy earning a total of 26 merit badges. He was an honor camper at summer camp three times, and is a member of the Order of the Arrow. Michael held the positions of Photographer, Quartermaster, Librarian, Troop Guide, Assistant Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.
Nick Perna, son of Patrick and Kathy Perna, was the next scout to be honored by Mr. Bird.
”Nick joined the troop in 2002 and has been very active in the troop having taken part in about 75 separate troop activities in his five years with the troop,” Mr. Bird said. “He has 67 nights camping and has put in over 66 hours of service.”
At summer camp, the Hillsborough High School student was an Honor Camper three years in a row and is a Brotherhood member of Order of the Arrow. He has earned 32 merit badges, 11 more than needed to achieve the Eagle rank. By doing this, Nick is on his way to earning a Bronze and Gold Eagle Palm. He has held the positions of Troop Guide, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader. Nick put in Period Correct Pathway as well as a stairway at the Old Dutch Parsonage State Park in Somerville for his Eagle project.
Scout Collin Maxwell, son of Tom and Chris Maxwell, joined the troop at the same time as Nick in 2002.
”Collin also has been fairly active in the troop with his records showing some if his favorite activities being the whitewater rafting and Beach Jam,” said Mr. Bird.
Collin, who also attends HHS, has 65 nights camping and about 50 hours of service above those required for the rank of Eagle Scout. He is a Brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow and an Honor camper for three years.
Collin earned 20 merit badges and has held the positions of Quartermaster, Librarian, Assistant Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. His Eagle project was an outside classroom and pathway to the classroom that he built at Auten Road Intermediate School.
The four new Eagle Scout were presented with their Eagle Scout Award and Kevin Shields from the Manville Hillsborough Elks presented the boys with a certificate from the Elks. Troop 186 also made a presentation to the boys.
New Eagle Alex was very excited about his honor.
”We are all very thankful that we have this day to celebrate together since we are such good friends ever since we all joined scouting. It is a major accomplishment, and we are just glad to be here. We have spent months and months working on it and it so well regarded from everyone in the nation from the president on down. Whenever you mention that you are an Eagle, everyone says ‘Wow what an accomplishment congratulations.’ It is a really big thing for us,” he said.
”The boys all did a great job,” Assistant Scoutmaster Holland said. “They struggled hard to get to the highest of Boy Scouting and did a great job doing it.”
