Five Troop 45 Boy Scouts advance to highest rank of Eagle

WARWICK — On Sunday, April 27, Warwick's Boy Scouts of America Troop 45 advanced five more of its members to the rank of Eagle, raising the Troop's total of Eagle Scouts to 98 since it was first organized in 1960.

The statistics are remarkable since less than four percent of all scouts attain this rank, the highest one awarded in scouting.

Troop 45 presented the awards at an "Eagle Court of Honor" for Kyle Sarbak, Eric and Luke Segota, Thomas Van Duynhoven and Logan Vero.

The event was held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, which sponsors Troop 45. Admissions Committee Chairman Steve Kent served as emcee.

During the ceremony everyone also paid special tribute to the late Clayton Eurich who passed away April 17 and who had directed the Eagle Court program since 1971.

To achieve the Eagle Rank, the scouts were required to complete a minimum of 21 Merit Badges, have leadership roles in and outside of the troop and participate in community service. Each candidate must complete a major community service project as the last requirement before attaining the Eagle rank.

The projects
Kyle Sarbak designed and built six commercial grade picnic tables for Veterans Memorial Park.

Eric Segota led scouts in building four raised planter boxes at the Mount Alverno Assisted Living Center garden.

His brother Luke repaired and replaced parts of the existing fence around the garden along with leading scouts in replacing posts and pickets, power washing and staining the fence.

Thomas van Duynhoven designed and installed a patio and replanted the garden outside the Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr.

Logan Vero planted plants along a formerly bare pathway at Shervier Pavilion skilled nursing facility, built two planter boxes and constructed a movable potting bench for horticultural therapy.

State, county and local officials attended the Eagle Court. And New York State Senator John Bonacic, who represents the 42nd District, which includes Warwick, presented each of the Eagle Scouts with a Senate proclamation.

In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America celebrated 100 years of preparing young Americans to become exceptional adults.

- Roger Gavan