David Whitesell, Eagle Scout

Here is my chance to brag about David. This post is about him.

David has been doing scout activities for the past few years. He started with Cub Scouts in about the 3rd grade, and Frank and I participated in different ways with his troops: weekly activities, Pack Meetings, and summer camps.

Then he got into Boy Scouts, and Frank was lucky enough to be the leader of his troop or participate as an adult leader volunteer for many activites, for a couple of years. Campouts, scout camps, merit badges. David had a buddy in his Mexico City troop who had a goal of getting his Eagle (highest rank in Boy Scouts) by the time he was 13. David picked up on that, and set his own goal as the same.

Last spring it became apparent that it really might be possible to do just that...could he get his project organized and finished, paperwork turned in and the Board of Review happen, before his November 1st 13th birthday?

Hmmm...add to this the poor timing...Frank had already started his job in Boston while the rest of us stayed in California, so it would mainly fall upon Mom to push through with the project... we were split across the country as a family, preparing to move to Massachusetts and trying to sell our CA house in a really cruddy market! Mom's sanity level was questionable, at best...

BUT. He talked to the proper school officials over the course of a month, and they figured out what he could do to help his middle school, for the project. He would paint parts of the school auditorium: closet doors under the stage area, and all the closets across the back wall.

We worked for 4 days (during the 2 weeks after school was out, when the building was still open during the days), 3-5 hours each day. David organized volunteers and supplies, and asked for donations to help the project along. Church members stepped up and volunteered their supplies and time...it was really inspiring to see!

Here are project photos: Before...


during...




and AFTER...




Now, fast-forward the summer. We moved, sold our CA house, found a house in MA. David completed and turned in paperwork (the paperwork should have its own merit badge, BTW), and COULD have had a Board of Review before his 13th Birthday Nov. 1st. Other scouts were ahead of him, however, so his was pushed out a month. he had his Board of Review November 19, and passed! YIPPEE!

His Court of Honor was last Tuesday. It was neat to see it culminate, his efforts acknowledged. We are really proud of him. Here are some photos from that night:












pinning on my "Eagle Scout Mom" pin...
















his cake...








and a flag Frank ordered for him. This flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol building, on David's birthday, last November.



(We may be a little biased, but we think David is pretty neat. We're glad he's in our family.)

Kari