Sam the Eagle Scout

Jennie

Jul 1

Sam was my preschooler many years ago. He always had a smile and enjoyed playing with friends. Sam's mother was careful about finding the right preschool for her boy. When she visited the public library, she found The Groton ABC Book by the Aqua Roomers (yes, card catalogued) and knew Sam and Jennie's class would be a match. We were!

Sam's preschool years were delightful. He adored Gloria, and his mother told me about the day he saw her in the library and was over the moon. There's more to come on that story.

Sam was in my summer camp group, and we had a blast. My group did play performances for the entire camp, and they were a big hit. Why? Because the children decided on the play and their parts. Really. It would have been far easier to have a scripted play and assign parts...but then children have no say. It's camp. It's their play. Let the children do it. Oh boy, did they ever do it!

Sam and his best buddy,
the 'cool dudes' in a play performance.

I still have our Brown Bear, Brown Bear classroom book:

The years rolled on, and Sam kept in touch. His senior year was approaching. He wanted to give back to Groton Community School as his Eagle Scout project. His plan was to build a shed at the end of the playground to store bikes and outdoor playground equipment.

Simple? No!

The planning included a concrete pad. Sam had a lot to figure out, plus enlisting help, and getting donors for the materials. I have heard that an Eagle Scout project takes a year, and now I know that is true. I stopped by school one weekend when Sam was busy on his project.

The shed was finally finished. Talk about a labor of love!

And then I got The Invitation to his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

Since the inception of the Eagle Scout Award in 1912, 2.01% of eligible scouts have earned Scouting's highest honor. There is only one group where all members are Eagle Scouts - the astronauts who landed on the moon. What it takes to achieve this award is more than hard work; it's a passion, and the foundation is the Scout Oath, the duties to God and country, other people, and self.

Character.

I have been fortunate to attend a few Eagle Scout Court of Honors. It is a moving, powerful event. The tradition includes lighting candles, each of which is symbolic. Your whole life is in front of you, with stories and awards of what you have done since you were seven or eight years old. Your Scoutmasters and teachers reflect on all you have done in great detail. Your fellow Scouts tell stories.

I was asked to tell a story about Sam. I knew immediately the story I would tell - seeing Gloria in the library. Character at its finest. The best part is I had the original letter Sam's mother had written. I read it aloud to the audience.