ALLENTOWN — Boy Scout Troop 180 held a Court of Honor recently to award Scout advancements and merit badges, including conferring the elite rank of Eagle Scout on two young men.
The ceremony was held at the Allentown Presbyterian Church on June 12 under a ccustom-built floor-to-ceiling archway with the words “On My Honor” in large wooden letters cut from birch branches. The late Eric Sortore, who was the troop’s assistant Scoutmaster, built the archway with his three sons in the weeks before his death July 9 from cancer.
The archway provided an impressive setting for Troop 180 to confer Eagle Scout Awards to Anthony Ferro of Allentown and Alex Hoover of Upper Freehold. In addition to having fulfilled the required advancements, merit badges and community service, both Anthony and Alex also successfully planned and completed Eagle projects in their respective communities.
Anthony’s constructed and placed bat boxes in Heritage Park in Allentown. To execute his project, Anthony obtained borough permits, researched and made construction plans, raised funds for materials to build the boxes. Anthony then organized Scouts to build and mount the boxes in the park.
Anthony’s project benefits Allentown by helping to reduce the number of insects around Doctors Creek and in Heritage Park because bats eat insects, including pests such as mosquitoes and flies. Bat boxes have also been shown as indispensable in stemming the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a fungal infection imported from Europe that has been decimating the native bat population.
In Upper Freehold Township, Alex arranged for the planting of 24 shade trees on the grounds of Stone Bridge Middle School. Princeton Nurseries generously donated the trees and Alex coordinated the planning with numerous community members and Scout leaders, the school board and Hersey Mayeux, director of Building and Grounds in the Upper Freehold Regional School District.
Five sweet gum and 19 little-leaf linden trees were planted last summer by dedicated Scouts and Scout leaders. As the trees grow, they will provide much needed shade and beautify the front of the school and playground area.
Alex, who graduated from Allentown High School in June, will attend Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania this fall to study electrical engineering. Anthony attends Temple University in Philadelphia and is studying business.
The June 12 Court of Honor also marked the changing of the guard, with longtime Scoutmaster Bill Hoover stepping down from his position and former Assistant Scoutmaster Rob Roy taking over the leadership of the troop.
During Mr. Hoover’s 10-year tenure, there have been 22 Eagle Scouts who have progressed through the ranks. The Boy Scouts of America says only 2 percent of Scouts attain the rank of Eagle, but under Mr. Hoover’s tutelage Troop 180 has far eclipsed the national average.
Over the past 10 years with Mr. Hoover at the helm, the troop has expanded its outdoor program with monthly campouts and high adventure trips, initiated an annual Run with Eagles 5K, and grown to the current roster of 60 Scouts.
Mr. Hoover spoke to the Scouts and their families about the rewarding aspects of being involved with Troop 180 and stressed the importance of the adults assuming a supporting role while encouraging the Scouts to lead.
”It’s been most gratifying to have had the opportunity to help provide a positive scouting experience to so many boys over the past 10 years,” said Mr. Hoover, who will stay involved with the troop as an assistant Scoutmaster.
”I’m always heartened when I’m greeted years later in a store, or elsewhere, by a former Troop 180 Scout,” Mr. Hoover said.

