Troop 821 Boy Scout Brian Mitchell leads a small army of volunteers to repair historic headstones at The Old Burying Ground on Mechanic Street. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – When the tornado of 2010 devastated one of the city’s elementary schools, the Boy Scouts sprang into action to help clear the debris and re-open the doors of Munger Hill Elementary. When last year’s freak Halloween snow storm brought down trees all over the city and isolated residents, the scouts formed the Brush Brigade to assist those in the community who had nowhere else to turn. These two highly-visible undertakings are just a small sample of the many community service projects that the city’s Boy Scouts have successfully completed in recent history.
The impact of scouting on the Westfield community is not often examined very closely. This city boasts the active presence of 3 Boy Scout troops and 4 Cub Scout packs. Troop 109 is chartered by St. Mary’s Church and is led by Scoutmaster Dave Flaherty. The Westfield Sportsman’s Club hosts Troop 820 which is led by Bill Pelton. And Joe Mitchell is the Scoutmaster of Troop 821 which is chartered by Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.
“Service to the community is one of the fundamental tenets of scouting,” says Joe Mitchell. “Duty to others is a requirement in scouting but the boys thoroughly enjoy giving back to their community. They gain a genuine sense of fulfillment when they help others.” Mitchell said.
Boy Scout Matt Kiefer salutes the flag at the Great River Bridge dedication in July 2012. (Photo submitted)
In addition to providing aide during natural disasters, the scouts have completed numerous other projects to fill specific needs in Westfield. Repairing historic headstones, marking storm drains, fabricating and installing playground equipment, protecting our water supply and helping our city’s less fortunate are just a few examples of the scouts giving back to the community at large. The boys seek out projects to serve the public in order to advance in rank in scouting. Additionally, organizations around the city frequently seek out the assistance of the scouts when others are unable to help.
Another way the scouting program gives back to the community is by helping young men achieve their full potential, become productive members of society and grow into the leaders of tomorrow.
“For these young men, the values of scouting are an important component in their everyday life,” said Dave Flaherty, Scoutmaster of Troop 109.
Ryan Dodge, 2010 graduate of Westfield High School, is a shining example of a young man who has grown considerably through scouting. He is an engineering student at Norwich University, a cadet in Air Force ROTC and an Airman First Class in the Vermont Air National Guard.
“The leadership skills I learned in Boy Scouts come into play in all that I do in the Air Guard and at school,” A1C Dodge explained.
Eric Wardner graduated from Westfield High School last spring and was an active member of Boy Scout Troop 821. He successfully completed an extremely competitive process and was appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He is a freshman and is studying computer engineering.
“I keep the leadership lessons I learned in Boy Scouts close to me every day,” Wardner said. “The relationships I’ve made in scouting are as important as the lessons I’ve learned in teamwork and leadership.”
Others in the community who have “cut their teeth” in scouting include business owners, financiers, software engineers police officers and salesmen. Scouts and the scouting ideals cross the broad spectrum of individuals in our community.
If you are interested in helping scouts in our community, the Boy Scouts of Troop 821 are hosting their annual Breakfast with Santa fundraiser this Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the door between 8:00 and 11:30 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish Center on 127 Holyoke Road in Westfield. There will be pancakes served by the scouts, raffle prizes and photos with Santa Claus.
