By Lebbing/Ronan
Local Eagle Scouts Honored
A celebratory lunch for Eagle Scouts Brian Ronan, and Zachary Lebbing was held September 30th at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jamesburg, NJ. The young men were being honored for attaining Boy Scout’s highest rank. Local and state dignitaries were in attendance as Brian and Zachary were presented the Eagle Award in an Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony directed by their Boy Scout Troop, Troop 60 of Monroe Township, NJ. In addition to the Eagle Award, Jerry Setzer of VFW Post 262 presented Brian and Zack with a plaque and gift. They were also honored with a proclamation from the Mayor and Council presented by Councilman Steve Dalina. State Senator Linda Greenstein, and Assemblyman Daniel Benson presented Troop 60’s newest Eagle Scouts with a proclamation.
The rank of Eagle is a substantial undertaking! Brian & Zachary, both 2012 graduates of Monroe Township High School, started their scouting adventure as Cub Scouts in First Grade. They became members of Boy Scout Troop 60 in elementary school, and began advancing in rank through their mastery of outdoor skills, achievement of merit badges, participation in Boy Scout events, completion of numerous hours of community service, as well as holding various leadership positions with their troop. The culmination of the Eagle Scout requirements is the completion of an Eagle Scout Service Project. This project is the application of the organizational and leadership skills developed through the scouting program. The scout must conceive, plan, and direct a service project – working with the beneficiary of the project, seeking donations to complete the project, and directing youth and adult volunteers to finalize the project.
Brian’s Eagle Project involved improvements to the interior of the Knights of Columbus Building in Jamesburg, NJ. Brian met with the leadership of the Knights to propose his project and gain approval. He then had to present the project to his troop and Central NJ Boy Scout Council. Once the project was approved, Brian directed scouts, parents, and other volunteers in a three step plan. First, a basement storage area was cleaned and painted. Next, a small storage area was re-located to a coat room and the space was then sheet rocked and painted. Finally, banquet tables were moved from a coat room to the new space and the coat room was sheet rocked and painted. The project provided the beneficiary much needed storage space, and a functional and more attractive coat room for the many charitable events they run.
Zack’s Eagle project also involved the Knights of Columbus building in Jamesburg, NJ. Zack gained approval from the Knights, Boy Scout Troop 60, and the Central NJ Boy Scout Council to refurbish the exterior of the building. Zack worked with local businesses, scouts, parents, family and friends to lead and direct a group of volunteers to make renovations to the exterior of the Knights of Columbus building. The work was weather dependent, and Zack had to build in tentative rain dates as he devised a plan for a building facelift that included power washing the exterior walls, porches and decks, scraping and re-painting the two front porches and window frames and fencing, applying water sealant for the back porch, deck and wheelchair ramp, replacing broken vinyl siding, rescreening torn screens, securing loose gutters and rebuilding outdoor tables. He also addressed a safety concern by re-painting the parking spaces in the parking lot. The project was well received and truly appreciated by the Knights of Columbus.
Brian addressed the attendees of the lunch saying that the memories and experiences along the way were the best part of his Eagle experience. He thanked his parents, his two brothers who are Eagle Scouts, and the entire leadership of Troop 60 for their help and support. Brian acknowledged the considerable support of all the volunteers who helped him with his eagle project. He then presented Linda Modzelewski, a long time adult leader with Boy Scout Troop 60, with a mentor pin recognizing her special influence on his scouting career. Brian is currently attending Middlesex County College where he is a business major.
Zack then spoke to the audience about his road to Eagle. He loved The Pinewood Derby, camping at KMSR and Snuffy Hollow and cooking over the campfire. He recalled how he was surprised when the younger scouts started looking up to him. He soon felt the pressure and responsibility of being a role model – and that made him a better scout. After presenting his mother with her parent pin, he gave her roses to thank her for her support thru-out the years raising him on her own. Zack then honored three individuals with mentor pins. First, Jeffrey Cashin, who had stepped in and attended many of Troop 60’s meetings and camping trips, Michael Roberts, who has been there for the past several years of this journey and worked alongside Zack with every phase of his Eagle Scout project and then Terri McDonald- Hartel, District Commissioner, who had given Zack advise and help with this long process. Zack’s future plans include serving in the U.S. Marines.

