More Eagle Scouts for local Troop 489
Four Hillsborough boys from Boy Scout Troop 489 were honored together April 26 at a Township Committee meeting for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest in Scouting.
Mayor Gloria McCauley presented proclamations to Gary Bouwmans, Vincent Giralo, Adam Koehr and Jack Werner. The boys all joined Troop 489 together in the spring of 2004 and will graduate from high school next month.
Eagle is the highest of seven Boy Scout ranks and the achievement requires years of active participation, service, and demonstrated leadership. During advancement through the ranks, boys master basic Scout skills that have been part of the program for more than 100 years, including camping, cooking, first aid, citizenship, personal fitness, family life, emergency preparedness, environmental science, swimming, canoeing, and hiking.
Boys must earn at least 21 merit badges, of which 12 are required. Eagle requires demonstrating leadership by planning and executing a significant community service project. Eagle Scouts set an example for others to follow by living according to the principles of the Scout oath and law.
”Boys just don’t get these opportunities anywhere else except Scouts. We are very proud of these boys and their families,” said Scoutmaster Chris Obropta. Since its establishment in 1999, Troop 489 has graduated 26 Eagle Scouts.
There have been five sets of brothers gaining the Eagle rank.
”I think 92 percent of our Eagle Scouts have parental involvement in the troop,” said Assistant Scoutmaster Gary Bouwmans Sr. “When parents show Scouting is important and take it seriously, I think the boys take it seriously.”
The chartered organization for the troop is Mary Mother of God Church.
Gary is the son of Linda and Gary Bouwmans and has an older sister, KiraLynn, who earned her Silver award in Girl Scouting. The Bouwmans family moved to Hillsborough from Manville in 2001. In the fall, Gary will attend Raritan Valley Community College, where he will study business liberal arts in preparation to earn his bachelor’s degree. Highlights of his Scouting career include earning the den chief award, serving as troop guide, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and working as a program aid and counselor for the last four summers at Ockanickon Scout Reservation in Pipersville, Pa.
Gary built outdoor classroom and benches at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Somerville.
Vincent is the son of Kim and Anthony Giralo. His older brother, Anthony, is also a Troop 489 Eagle Scout. Vincent has lived in Hillsborough his entire life. He will attend Bucknell University, where he will study engineering. Vincent held such leadership positions as patrol leader and knot instructor and he enjoyed attending camp outs and summer camps over the years. Vincent’s Eagle project involved building and installation of bluebird and butterfly houses in Country Classics Park in Hillsborough.
Adam is the oldest of three sons born to John and Melissa Koehr. The Koehrs moved to Hillsborough in November of 1999. Adam is interested in pursuing a career in engineering and plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Highlights of Adam’s Scouting career included serving as senior patrol leader and attending two Boy Scout high-adventure camps, Florida Seabase in the Florida Keys and Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
Adam joins the family heritage of Scouting and achievement of the rank of Eagle that goes through his grandfather, father, three uncles and four cousins.
Adam replaced a set of stairs on a hillside on a trail at Oak Springs Girl Scout camp in Franklin Township (Somerset).
Jack is the son of Kitty and Craig Werner. Jack’s older brother, Chris, is also a Troop 489 Eagle Scout. Jack has a keen interest in politics and understanding social behavior and will attend The College of New Jersey, where he will major in political science and psychology. Jack held many leadership positions, including quartermaster, patrol leader, and assistant senior patrol leader. His favorite trips included visiting Gettysburg, Boston, Washington, D.C., and attending the West Point Camporee. Jack built food storage box at same Girl Scout camp, low enough to make it handicapped accessible, at Oak Springs Camp.

