By Margaret Mager, Community Service Liaison, Bronxville Boy Scout Troop 5

Nov. 18, 2015:  On Monday, November 9, four members of Bronxville's Boy Scout Troop 5 advanced to Eagle Scout, the highest rank possible in Boy Scouts. 

An Eagle Court of Honor ceremony was held at The Reformed Church of Bronxville to recognize the long journey each Scout had taken and to officially advance each Scout to Eagle.

The four new Eagle Scouts are Brian Chrystal, Jason Cushman, Justin Hoak, and Nick Politi. 

These four young men join a very elite group. In 2014, only 6% of all Scouts achieved the rank of Eagle according to Scouting Magazine. Since Troop 5 was officially re-chartered in 1990, 61 members have achieved Eagle, with 21 reaching this highest rank since 2010. This is a testimony to the strength and commitment of the Scouts, the adult leadership, and the parents of Troop 5.

Becoming an Eagle Scout is journey of commitment, learning, skill, and leadership. In Scouting, the path to Eagle typically begins at the age of 10 or 11, usually takes 5 to 7 years to achieve, and must be completed before the age of 18.

There are 325 requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout, including completion of an Eagle Project. The Eagle Project is a service project conceived of by, and planned, funded, organized, and executed under the leadership of, the Eagle Scout candidate. An Eagle Scout service project can take months to plan and easily exceeds 200 man-hours of work with groups of 20 or more volunteers managed by the Scout.  

As John Politi noted during his remarks on what it takes to become an Eagle Scout, "To quote the 1938 Handbook for Scoutmasters:  An Eagle Scout is a young man 'who is qualified to help others as well as take care of himself.' His badge is not 'a decoration, but rather a symbol of knowledge and ability.'"

The Eagle Scout Court of Honor was well attended by parents, friends, family members, troop members, and many other supporters of the advancing Scouts, including a past national president (2004-2006) of the Boy Scouts of America, John C. Cushman, III. Mr. Cushman praised the new Eagle Scouts on their achievement and encouraged them to live the Scout Law, to show leadership in life, and to continue to give back to their communities.

As Scoutmaster Kevin Taylor administered the Eagle Scout Oath to the new Eagle Scouts for the first time, three generations of Cushman Eagles (John, Chip, and Jason Cushman) stood together reciting the oath along with all Eagle Scouts in attendance. 

The troop felt very honored when distinguished Eagle Scout Jack Coughlin of Larchmont offered his congratulations and suggested that the new Eagles consider installing a commemorative marble plaque at their Eagle Project site. Born in 1924, an active Scouter for more than 70 years, and recipient of many honors and awards in Scouting, Mr. Coughlin said that such a plaque was not available when he became an Eagle in 1943. In fact, it was his idea to create the popular black marble plaques, an idea the Boy Scouts of America adopted in 2012.

A display area showcased each of the new Eagle Scouts' histories as a Scout as well as each Scout's impressive Eagle Project work. All four Scouts' Eagle Projects focused on facility and ground improvement projects at organizations that benefit children, the general public, seniors, and at-risk youth. Brian Chrystal's project beneficiary was the Child Abuse Prevention Center in White Plains; Jason Cushman's project benefitted the Untermyer Park and Gardens in Yonkers; Justin Hoak's project benefitted the Wartburg in Mount Vernon; and Nick Politi's project benefitted the Rosedale Center in the Bronx.

One of the highlights of the evening was Troop 5's gift to the new Eagle Scouts--a version of what the Scout Law's twelve points mean to their fellow Scouts in their own words. This was presented by six Troop 5 members:  Jack O'Neill (trustworthy, obedient); Marco LaVecchia (loyal, cheerful); Andrew Mager (helpful, thrifty); Will Rabsey (friendly, brave); Giovanni LaVecchia (courteous, clean); and Peter Vorbach (kind, reverent). Tim Cushman acted as master of ceremonies, James Rhee conducted the Pledge of Allegiance, Marco Crinieri led the Scout Oath, The Reverend Jonah Smith-Bartlett from The Reformed Church shared an opening prayer, and Sebastian Proano and Xavier Layton performed Color Guard duties for the ceremony.

Pictured here (L to R): Eagle Scouts Brian Chrystal, Jason Cushman, Nick Politi, and Justin Hoak. 

Photo by Margaret Mager, Community Service Liaison, Bronxville Boy Scout Troop 5