Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 6, 2006 12:19:48 GMT -5
Local Eagle Scout honors Army National Guard
Tom Simms
FREEHOLD - Tom Simms, a recently certified Eagle Scout, completed his Eagle Scout service project to honor the soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard of the Freehold Armory.
The armory, on Park Avenue, houses the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry. These soldiers were deployed last year in the Middle East as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and the war against terrorism.
Tom's Eagle Scout service project consisted of designing and building raised flower beds, landscaping existing flower beds and providing picnic tables and park benches to allow the soldiers a place to rest during their weekend drills and to enjoy the exterior grounds of the armory.
The highlight of the Eagle project is the "Honor Star" flower bed honoring the soldiers of the 114th Infantry for volunteering their service and sacrifice to the nation.
The "Honor Star" features the infantry's unit number "114" surrounded by red, white and blue flowers.
Tom said, "the soldiers of the National Guard are the stars of our country. I wanted to do something special for the freedom the soldiers provide all of us."
The other raised flower beds also followed a patriotic red, white and blue color scheme.
Tom, 17, is a senior and honor student at Freehold High School. He recently finished the fall season as a member of the Colonials' varsity soccer team.
Tom is a member of Boy Scout Troop 18, sponsored by St. Rose of Lima Church. Tom currently serves as a junior assistant scoutmaster for his troop, which is the highest leadership position a Scout can hold in the troop. He is the first Scout in the troop to hold this position.
Earning Eagle Scout is a national honor, as only 4 percent of boys who initially enter the Boy Scouting program ever earn the Eagle Scout rank.
To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a Scout needs to advance through six other lower ranks, earn at least 21 merit badges, hold several different positions of responsibility and leadership in the troop and complete a leadership project which consists of planning, obtaining materials, leading others and implementing a service project that benefits the community. Many local businesses provided support or materials to help Tom's Eagle service project.
An Eagle Scout Court of Honor celebration ceremony is scheduled in December to honor Tom. It will be held at the New Jersey Army National Guard Armory in Freehold. Soldiers from the New Jersey Army National Guard will also participate in the ceremony.
Tom Simms
FREEHOLD - Tom Simms, a recently certified Eagle Scout, completed his Eagle Scout service project to honor the soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard of the Freehold Armory.
The armory, on Park Avenue, houses the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry. These soldiers were deployed last year in the Middle East as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and the war against terrorism.
Tom's Eagle Scout service project consisted of designing and building raised flower beds, landscaping existing flower beds and providing picnic tables and park benches to allow the soldiers a place to rest during their weekend drills and to enjoy the exterior grounds of the armory.
The highlight of the Eagle project is the "Honor Star" flower bed honoring the soldiers of the 114th Infantry for volunteering their service and sacrifice to the nation.
The "Honor Star" features the infantry's unit number "114" surrounded by red, white and blue flowers.
Tom said, "the soldiers of the National Guard are the stars of our country. I wanted to do something special for the freedom the soldiers provide all of us."
The other raised flower beds also followed a patriotic red, white and blue color scheme.
Tom, 17, is a senior and honor student at Freehold High School. He recently finished the fall season as a member of the Colonials' varsity soccer team.
Tom is a member of Boy Scout Troop 18, sponsored by St. Rose of Lima Church. Tom currently serves as a junior assistant scoutmaster for his troop, which is the highest leadership position a Scout can hold in the troop. He is the first Scout in the troop to hold this position.
Earning Eagle Scout is a national honor, as only 4 percent of boys who initially enter the Boy Scouting program ever earn the Eagle Scout rank.
To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a Scout needs to advance through six other lower ranks, earn at least 21 merit badges, hold several different positions of responsibility and leadership in the troop and complete a leadership project which consists of planning, obtaining materials, leading others and implementing a service project that benefits the community. Many local businesses provided support or materials to help Tom's Eagle service project.
An Eagle Scout Court of Honor celebration ceremony is scheduled in December to honor Tom. It will be held at the New Jersey Army National Guard Armory in Freehold. Soldiers from the New Jersey Army National Guard will also participate in the ceremony.