FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Boy Scout Troop 155, chartered by the West Freehold School PTO, congratulated its 2007 Eagle Scout recipients Stanley Benarick, Dan Crawford, Matthew Grajek, Shawn Lo Bue andMatthew Neaton at its recent Court of Honor ceremony.
According to a press release from the troop, the Trail to Eagle carries on a special significance, not only in Scouting but also as a scout enters higher education, business or industry, and community service. According to the Boys Scouts of America, not every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts do so. This represents more than 1.7 million Boy Scouts who have earned the rank since 1912. Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting – citizenship training, character development and personal fitness – remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.
To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills. Although many options are available to demonstrate proficiency in these areas, a number of specific skills are required to advance through the ranks – Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. To advance, a Boy Scout must pass specific tests that are organized by requirements and merit badges.
Merit badges signify the mastery of certain Scoutcraft skills, as well as helping boys increase their skill in an area of personal interest. Of the 120 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle Scout. Of this group, 12 badges are required, including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping and Family Life. In addition, a Scout has a choice between Emergency Preparedness and Lifesaving and a choice among Cycling, Hiking and Swimming.
The following are the projects that the Troop 155 Eagle Scout recipients completed:
• Stanley Benarick, a Senior at Christian Brothers Academy, created an Informational Station at Topanemus Cemetery. It was the fabrication of an informational station placed at the entrance of the trail to the Topanemus Cemetery in Marlboro, New Jersey. Local historians believe this cemetery is the oldest organized burial site in Monmouth County, containing graves that predate the Revolutionary War by 75 years. This informational station appears much like a moderate sized podium with its top dipping toward the viewer at an angle of roughly 30 degrees. The station’s viewing area contains a general history of the cemetery and the original church.
• Dan Crawford, a senior at Freehold Township High School, worked with the Monmouth County Historic Preservation Commission and restored the Oakley Farm Smokehouse. This project required that he carefully power washed, primed, painted the smokehouse door and mended shingles. He also created an information board to display important historical information and pictures.
•Matthew Grajek, a senior at Freehold Township High School, designed and created a prayer labyrinth at Hope Lutheran Church, Elton-Adelphia Road. A labyrinth is a “walk with God.” It is a circular path that one follows to the center and then back around to the outside. While taking part in the walk, the personmay reflect on the week, or any other time period, and may pray while walking. This project consisting of 3,650 RiverHolland paver bricks, involved the work of 63 people totaling 479 hours.
• Shawn Lo Bue, a senior at Colts Neck High School, created an environmental kiosk at a Green Acres location in Freehold. His idea for his Eagle project came from talking to a local middle school teacher who needed a place to put her students’ projects. Shawn installed a bulletin board-style information stand for her to be able to post the work. The structure is about 8 feet tall and includes a roof. Time was spent with the roof framing, cutting the support posts, building the backboard, shingling the roof and installing the bulletin board and Plexiglas doors. The environmental kiosk will enhance the beauty of the GreenAcres location and will provide an educational experience to those who visit it.
• Matthew Neaton, a senior at Freehold Township High School, created a trail at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan. The trail he created is about 600 feet long and connects two bridges which span the southern branch of Spotswood Brook at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. This trail, which the park service was anxious to have opened, was selected because of its historical significance and its accessible location. It is situated in the habitat of several threatened animal and plant species. In addition to researching wildlife, the project required the clearing of large areas of severely overgrown brush and trees, the defining of trail boundaries, installation of a walking surface and the purchase and placement of a permanent display board. The display provides visitors with information about the significance of this area to the early settlers. The park service assisted with marking the path, the wood chips for the walking surface as well as providing factual information about the area.