“On my honor I will do my best. To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”
The prime example of living up to the Boy Scout oath is becoming an Eagle Scout. Senior Jake DuHadway and junior Steve Hiles, along with 2.7 million other boys’ scouts in 2011, according the Boy Scouts of America website, did just that after completing the necessary requirements. One must become a life scout, serve in a leadership position in the troop, earn 21 white ring merit badges and lastly and most commonly known, create and run a service project.
“[For the service project,] I held a food collection in front of Giant in 2011 to benefit the Lorton Community Action Center,” DuHadway said.
He said the LCAC came to him while he was searching for a project idea and were a perfect fit for what he wanted to do. The six hour event brought in over $2000 in food to the center.
“I was surprised by the generosity of people and how much they were willing to give,” DuHadway said.
Hiles repaired the mile markers on the Burke Lake course. He spent over a month pulling the whole project together including a day spent installing the new signs.
“I joined Boy Scouts because I love to be outside and I wanted a challenge,” Hiles said. “But I did the Eagle Scout project because I wanted to become the best I can be.”
This project is the final step in reaching the Eagle Scout status, a position regarded with the upmost prestige because the title caries throughout the boys’ life. Unlike Boy Scouts, which ends when they reach age 18, the Eagle Scout title is a life honor. Involvement typically declines after reaching this rank.
“Since [reaching Eagle Scout] I haven’t been to meetings because the position I would hold should be given to a younger guy who is trying to gain his own award,” DuHadway said.
In addition to adding excellence to a college resume, the Eagle Scout Award teaches valuable life skills such as organization, dealing with other people whom one wouldn’t normally interact with, working with money, keeping a group of workers focused, time management and about hard work and dedication.
DuHadway said, “Do it [Boy Scouts], because it’s a great experience.”
