Two teens were elevated to the highest rank in the Boy Scouts this weekend at St. Helen’s Church in Howard Beach.
Michael Benjamin and Jonathan Green were presented with their Eagle Scout medals and patches at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony on Sunday, April 19.
This is not only the highest rank a scout can achieve but is a lifelong accomplishment, according to scoutmasters.
To earn the rank, one must demonstrate his ability to help and lead others. He must teach the younger scouts all that he has learned and must prove himself capable of organizing and administering a large community service project.
Benjamin completed more than the 21 required merit badges and Green completed 32 merit badges, along with their individual Eagle Scout Projects.
Green’s project was to organize the first 5K Run/Walk for fitness in Howard Beach and Benjamin’s project was to clean up the Bernard Fineson Developmental Center.
Green is following a long family tradition of scouting and Eagle achievements. His grandfather, Philip Green, was the scoutmaster of Troop 139. His father and two uncles all became Eagle Scouts in the same troop in the late 1970s. Many years later, Green’s cousins also achieved Eagle Scout status in the troop.
At the ceremony were scouting officials from Troop and Pack 139 of St. Helen’s, along with Senator Joseph Addabbo; Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer; Councilmember Eric Ulrich; Democratic District Leader Frank Gulluscio and St. Helen’s Pastor Reverend Monsignor Alfred LoPinto.
