Biggest 2008 Memory for me

Without any hesitation, my biggest memory of 2008 was earning my Eagle Scout rank, which I earned ironically on my dad’s birthday. March 15, 2008. I had my Eagle Scout Project a week earlier on March 7, 2008. I was extremely happy and proud that I finished something I began working on March 6, 2004; almost exactly four years earlier.

I still perfectly remember the events that went on during that day. I got decked out in my stylish Boy Scout uniform and my dad drove me to the Clifton Presbyterian Church. I still couldn’t get my learner’s permit until April. Usually most people don’t get their Eagle until right before they turn 18. I got mine while I was still 15 and 6 months. That’s extremely young to get the rank. There I met the adult leaders that were going to run my Eagle Scout Board of Review. Two were two people I knew really well, Sam Hensle and Michael Dulan’s fathers. The other man was a veteran Scout lead named Mr. Barnsten who had been active in Boy Scouts since 1944. That’s a long time to say the least.

There they made me do the typical Scout Oath, Law, etc. Then they asked me an array of questions I probably cannot tell outside of the board. Then I shared my favorite Scout memories. From the early days of Goshen in the Summer of 2004 to a little more recent journey to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in the Summer of 2007.

It was a priding feeling passing the board of review with flying colours, then my Eagle Court of Honor in May. That was fairly priding too. That day I think my dad was the most proud of me ever. I mean countless times he’s been proud of me some as recent as winning a track race a few weeks ago, but that showed him how much I could accomplish.

Also, what made it cool was exactly one month later, on April 15-16, I was chosen as a select Eagle Scout as part of the 30 Eagle Scouts from the Washington D.C. area to go welcome the Pope as he came to visit the White House with President Bush. My dad said that new doors would open when I got Eagle, they did. That was a once in a lifetime opportunity.