Eagle Scout Jonathan Huntley (left) is congratulated by Bob Perkins of the Western Mass. Council of the Boy Scouts of America immediately after earning the rank of Eagle Scout. (Photo submitted)
Recently, Jonathan Huntley of Boy Scout Troop 821 out of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, took the final step and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He cleared the last hurdle, his Eagle Board of Review, prior to celebrating his 14th birthday. “Jonathan is an exceptional young man.” says Joe Mitchell, Scoutmaster of Troop 821. “He possesses all the characteristics of a great leader. He’s going places!” Eagle Scout is an extremely difficult milestone to achieve with only 3 percent of boys who join scouts attaining it. Jonathan is the youngest scout in recent memory to achieve this great honor. “He is a very driven and focused person.” said Mitchell.
Jonathan was Troop 821’s Senior Patrol Leader last year where he led the troop of 46 boys through numerous activities including camping trips, hikes and weekly troop meetings. It was no small task for such a young scout to lead the largest Boy Scout Troop in Western Massachusetts. Jonathan is hoping to be reelected to Senior Patrol Leader sometime in the future.
One of the requirements to become an Eagle Scout is to plan, manage and execute a community service project. Jonathan’s project was to install a 25 foot flag pole at the First Congregational Church of Southampton where he and his family are parishioners. The project included coordinating with the church council, raising the pole, landscaping and a solemn retirement ceremony for over 200 unserviceable American flags.
