Paid for by Citizens for Colburn Committee. Authority John W. Phillips, Jr., Treasurer

Eagle Scouts receive their wings
By BETSY WALK
Assistant Community Editor - Star Democrat
June 23, 2005

PHOTO BY ERIN FLUHARTY Six members of Troop 741 became Eagle Scouts Thursday, June 16 during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremony at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Pictured from the left are Kennedy Fitzgerald, Bryan Lutes, Edward McCall III, Daniel Merriken, Corben Otton and Richard Thalmann.

PHOTO BY ERIN FLUHARTY Sr. Patrol Leader Hampton Turner, center; Josh Stone, left, and Adam Frock explain the significance of the Eagle Award and why the colors are important during Troop 741’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremony recently.

ST. MICHAELS — “This is an occasion for pride and joy, as well as serious reflection,” Assistant Scout Master Rick Lutes said.

Six local Boy Scouts received their Eagle Badges at a Court of Honor Ceremony June 16, at the Steamboat Courtyard at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels.

Kennedy Fitzgerald, Bryan Lutes, Edward McCall III, Daniel Merriken, Corben Otton and Richard Thalmann, all from St. Michaels Troop 741 earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the Boy Scouts highest honor. It is extremely rare to have six Boy Scouts attaining the rank of Eagle Scout at one Court of Honor, since only one to two percent of boys that start scouting become Eagle Scouts.

Among the people present at the ceremony were the Rev. Sam Hale of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in St. Michaels; Rev. Mark Nestlehutt of Christ Episcopal Church in St. Michaels; Maryland Sen. Rich Colburn; Delegates Addie Eckardt and Jeannie Haddaway; John Mautz, legislative aide to Gov. Bob Ehrlich; John Crompton, charter representative; Ed Henry, chief of police; Dennis O’Neill, district commissioner for the Delmarva District of the Boy Scouts of America; and Jean Ellen duPont Shehan, the primary benefactor of Troop 741.

Sen. Colburn presented State Senate Resolutions and American flags to each Eagle Scout.

“I have been to many Eagle Scout ceremonies,” Colburn said. “in hot and humid conditions and this is the first one where someone with connections above called for a cold front three and a half hours before the ceremony. It’s also the first one where six Scouts will achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.” He continued, “It’s my honor to be here with these outstanding young men. As a former Boy Scout — who never reached the rank of Eagle Scout, I might add — this is the highest honor, achieved only by complete dedication.”

Delegates Eckhardt and Haddaway and Legislative Aide Mautz presented Maryland State flags, House Resolutions and Governor’s Citations.

After expressing his excitement that Boy Scouts were so active in his hometown of St. Michaels, Mautz delivered a few words from Governor Ehrlich, “As an Eagle Scout, you reflect everything that a young man should aspire to — hard work for the greater good, dedication to family and community, vision for the future and faith in our God. Know and appreciate that those who love you and have supported you throughout your years of scouting will embrace and share in the pride of your accomplishments. I applaud your achievements and wish you continued success.”

To become an Eagle Scout, each of the boys had to do a project and earn 23 badges, representing work in various areas including community, state, nation, environment, business, sports and physical fitness. Fitzgerald of Easton created a nature trail at Pickering Creek Audubon Center; Lutes of Royal Oak did signs and landscaping at the entrance to Pickering Creek; McCall of Bozman did landscaping at the St. Michaels library; Merriken of St. Michaels put up blue bird boxes at the Jean Ellen duPont Shehan Audubon Society; Otton of St. Michaels prepared the land and planted a holiday tree for St. Michaels; and Thalmann of Easton created a nature trail boardwalk at Pickering Creek.