Eagle Scouts are recognized in Troop 356, Nashville

  • January 25, 2010
  • 618
                        
Eagles usually fly by themselves, but not the Eagles from Troop 356 of Nashville. These five scouts set out on a trail to accomplish something only 3 percent of all registered scouts achieve. Nashville’s first Eagle Scout to earn this award was Brandon Gilbert in 1992. Since then, 18 more names have been entered on the Eagle Nest Plaque for a new count of 19 Eagle Scouts with two more ready to finish theirs within a few months. The five new Eagles are Cody Ramirez, Taylor Eliot, Cody Messner, Justin Neels, and Trent Johnson. Each of these scouts worked at their own pace and never lost sight of the coveted rank. Each one had to earn 21 merit badges, 12 which are Eagle required and nine more of their own choice. They had to plan, develop, and carry out a significant service project for a religious organization, school, or a community. The project teaches the Eagles responsibility and leadership skills. Cody Rameriz’s project benefited Rails to Trails; Taylor Eliot’s benefited Lakeville Community Park; Cody Messner’s benefited Lakeville Elementary School; Justin Neels’s benefitted Glenmont Head Start; and Tent Johnson’s benefited West Holmes High School. Each scout had to ask local businesses and individuals who would be willing to donate materials and/or cash to complete each project. All the projects were completed with no cost to the recipients or the taxpayers of Holmes or Wayne counties. The total number of man-hours for all five Eagle service projects was over 1,200. The Killbuck District, which consists of Holmes and Wayne counties, are proud of all 21 Eagle Scouts who have earned their award this year. On Feb. 8, the Boy Scouts of America will be celebrating 100 years of continued service. Nashville’s troop just completed 30 years of continuous service as of October 2009. The troop has been operating in Nashville since around 1942 but never at a long continuous tenure. Ron Gilbert, now serving as committee chairman, helped get the troop started as a boy in 1963 when he moved to Nashville at the age of 13 as a second class scout. He found that the troop had folded and started asking individuals to get the troop started again. The newly appointed scoutmaster, Willard Fritz said, “Well Ron, since you are the scout with the highest rank, you are now the senior patrol leader.” Shortly after he turned 18, the troop folded again. Gilbert vowed that no scout who truly wanted the Eagle would not face the same problems that eluded him from getting his Eagle rank. In 1979, he was asked again by the community leaders if he would like to start the troop up again and he jumped at their offer. He became the scoutmaster for many years until he switched positions to become the committee chairman. He still remains active in the troop as the committee chairman yet today.


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