Printer Friendly Version - Seven Eagle Scouts Recognized at Guilford Court of Honor

From left, newly commissioned eagle scouts Caden Kozub, Mark McNamara, James Crossley, Evans Schultes, Joshua Brause, Bailey Meyers, and Oscar Scott were all honored at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor on April 27 in Guilford. Photo courtesy of Karen Scott

Guilford has long benefited from the work of its numerous volunteers and on April 27, some of the town’s youngest volunteers received a special honor. Seven members of Scout Troop 471 and Troop 474 earning the rank of eagle scout were recognized for their contributions to the community at a court of honor.

According to eagle scout parent Karen Scott, “the eagle award is Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Less than six percent of all boy scouts attain eagle. Last year, 52,160 scouts achieved eagle nationally. Attaining eagle is one of the few distinctions recognized nation-wide with universal appreciation of merit and achievement.”

The seven young men recognized at the event at the Guilford Yacht Club include Joshua Brause, who constructed and installed book trading posts at Jacobs Beach and the Nut Plains Dog Park; James Crossley, who constructed a freestanding kiosk to serve as guide to new Frisbee Disc Golf Course at Bittner Park; Caden Kozub, who built an informational trailhead kiosk for Rockland Preserve that contains a trail map and information on local history, flora, and fauna; Mark McNamara, who built and installed four picnic tables and landscaped an area for the tables with wood chips at Christ Episcopal Church; Bailey Meyers, who designed and created six “Before I Die...” boards that were displayed at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven; Evans Schultes, who constructed and installed an information kiosk in Rockland Preserve in Madison along with its poster, which details the history of the preserve; and Oscar Scott, who built and installed six new picnic tables for the pavilion at Lake Quonnipaug.

Chris Balestracci served as the master of ceremonies for the ceremony and local dignitaries included First Selectman Matt Hoey, Sate Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98), Guilford Parks & Recreation Director Rick Maynard, Boy Scouts of America Quinnipiac District Representative Mark Mackowiak, Guilford High School (GHS) Principal Rick Misenti, GHS Vice Principal Julia Chaffe, and GHS head fencing coach Kyle Mezzi.

Hoey presented a proclamation from the Town of Guilford to each of the scouts. Scanlon also spoke and provided a State of Connecticut General Assembly official citations for each scout.

Each scout also received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition signed by U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro and a congratulatory letter from the U.S. Senate signed by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy.

“It was a unique and wonderful experience to join two troops in this event,” said Scott. “It reflects the close ties that scouts establish and maintain, as well as the camaraderie that has continued to develop among the Guilford troops.”