|
Lincoln Scout Troop 1102 inducts
three new Eagle Scouts
[January 05, 2026]
On Saturday, January 3rd, three
boy scouts were inducted into the rank of Eagle Scout.
(Pictured from left to right)
Jackson Mathon, Soren Aukamp and Tommy Karrick were honored at an
Eagle Pinning Ceremony hosted by Troop 1102 at the Jefferson Street
Church in Lincoln.
The event began with scout emcee Blaine Klemm taking the podium and
calling for the presentation of colors. Two scouts delivered the
American Flag and the Boy Scout flag to the front of the room. Klemm
then led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Guests
were invited to be seated while all scouts in the room were to stay
standing for the recitation of the Scout Oath.
Troop leader Jason Maxheimer then called the event to order and
declared that the ceremony was officially begun.
Pastor Ken Kline of the St. John
United Church of Christ was invited to deliver the invocation.
Following the prayer, the honor guard was instructed to bring the
three Eagle candidates to the front of the room.
Leader Darren Karrick took the
podium and called for the first lighting of candles in recognition
of Scout Law.
The red, white and blue candles
were lit in recognition of the three parts of the scouting. The red
candle represented the life blood of brave men and women willing to
die for our country. The white flag symbolized purity and
cleanliness of mind body and spirit. The blue candle represented
faith and loyalty.
Next Leader Mark Mathon came
forward to oversee the lighting of additional candles by three of
the younger scouts in the troop. Each time a candle was light, the
scout recited the basis of the scout law and Mathon concluded the
phrase.
A Scout is Trustworthy.
A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises.
People can depend on him.
A Scout is Loyal.
A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and
nation.
A Scout is Helpful.
A Scout cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help
others without expecting payment or reward.
A Scout is Friendly.
A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He
offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and
respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from
his own.
A Scout is Courteous.
A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He
knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get
along.
A Scout is Kind.
A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as
he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or
kill any living thing.
A Scout is Obedient.
A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys
the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and
laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner
rather than disobeying them.
A Scout is Cheerful.
A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks
that come his way. He tries to make others happy.
A Scout is Thrifty.
A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for
the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He
carefully uses time and property.
A Scout is Brave.
A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to
stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or
threaten him.
A Scout is Clean.
A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He chooses the
company of those who live by high standards. He helps keep his home
and community clean.
A Scout is Reverent.
A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious
duties. He respects the beliefs of others.
Immediately following this ceremony, a voice from the back of the
room delivered the Voice of the Eagle.
“I am the eagle. Since the
beginning of time, man has used me and my brothers as a symbol of
royalty, power, victory, authority, and valor. My strength and
courage have inspired men through the ages.
“Ancient man looked upon me as an inveterate enemy of serpents. They
saw the battle between the sun and clouds as battles between an
eagle and a serpent.
“The ancient Assyrians associated me with Ashur, the great sun god.
I was held in awe and worshipped for my majestic beauty.
In India and Babylon I was the symbol of fire, of wind and storms,
and the bringer of immortality.
“In the golden age of Greece, I was a symbol of victory and supreme
spiritual energy. I was the sacred bird of Zeus, the ruler of all
gods. The Greeks represented me with wings out-stretched holding a
serpent in my claws. Thus, I represented the triumph of good over
evil.
“In Rome, I was the symbol of Jupiter, the supreme god. The Romans
saw me as the symbol of victory. As the Roman legions conquered the
world, they marched under the standard of the eagle, with
outstretched wings. The silver eagle was the symbol of the republic
and the Roman Empire used the golden eagle as its symbol. I became
the personal emblem of the Caesars, representing supreme authority.
“The rise of Christianity brought me still more honor. To the early
Christians, the eagle was the symbol of ascension. This was due to
the strong flight of the eagle with its gaze fixed on the sun. In
early icons I was best known as the symbol of St. John the
Evangelist.
“The Aztec tribe of the Classical Era in what is now Mexico sighted
me capturing a rattlesnake. They took this as a sign to settle at
that place which ultimately became Mexico City. Today my image
stands showing this event on the Great Seal of the modern nation of
Mexico and on the nation's flag. In Mexico I did not just witness
history in the making, but I helped to cause history.
“In the nineteenth century, French troops under Napoleon conquered
Europe under the symbol of the eagle. Many French soldiers gave
their lives to protect the golden eagle which supported the French
flag on the battleground.
“On June 20, 1782, I became the symbol of a new country. Because of
my courage and beauty, I was chosen to symbolize the new United
States of America. The eagle became a prominent feature of the seal
of state of the new republic.
“From this early beginning, I have been used in many ways to
symbolize the ideals of this country. Several states have the eagle
on their state flags. You can find me on the coins of America from
the beginning to present day.
“I have a prominent place in America as in ancient Rome as a symbol
of power and authority. The emblems of the President,
vice-president, several members of the President's cabinet, and most
branches of the armed forces center on the eagle.
“From the god of the Assyrians to the symbol of the Caesars to the
emblem of this country, it was thus fitting that the eagle should
have a part in the most momentous achievement of man. The Apollo 11
crew chose Eagle as the name for the lunar module which was to make
history. And with the words of Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong, "Houston,
Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed" -- man was on the moon.
“In 1911, following tradition as old as man himself, the Boy Scouts
of America chose the eagle to symbolize the very highest in
achievement. Through all of history, I have been the symbol of man's
best; now the eagle is the symbol of Scouting's best.”
[to top of second column] |
After these very formal and solemn
rituals, the program for the rest of the day became lighter as
leader Bret Aukamp came forward to review the “Trail to Eagle” for
each of the three young men poised at the font of the room. It was
noted that the three had gone through almost all of the stages of
scouting together as Aukamp spoke of all three while slides of their
journey was depicted on screens at the front and back of the room.
Following this recitation all the
eagle scouts in the room were asked to stand as the front of the
room led the scout pledge.
New Boy Scout Troop 1102
Eagle Scouts pinned by their fathers. - Video
In order of pinning Soren
Aukamp by Bret Aukamp, Tommy Karrick by Darren Karrick and Jackson
Mathon by Mark Mathon.
The parents of each scout were
asked to come forward for the official pinning of their respective
Eagles. Pins were placed on the left chest of each Eagle by his
father. During the pinning for Jackson Mathon, his father Mark
explained that the pin his son would receive during the ceremony was
not new. It was the pin that had seen now, three generations of
Eagles in the Mathon family starting with Jacksons grandfather.
Then each of the new Eagles was asked to stand and give a commentary
on their journey but also on the projects that they had completed as
a part of the Eagle requirement. Following the commentary, they
invited their parents to the front of the room, where that father
and mother each received a special pin in recognition of their
dedication and commitment of time and resources to the success of
their new scout. There was also an opportunity for each scout to
recognize those whom he considered to be personal mentors throughout
his scouting career.
Jackson Mathon is the son of Mark
and Joslyn Mathon. Both parents were pinned by their son in
appreciation of their commitment to his career as a scout. Jackson
also chose his dad as one of his mentors, along with leader Bret
Aukamp and fellow scout Aiden Alaniz.
Mathon shared that his Eagle
project had been a new flagpole placed at Kickapoo Creek Park along
with a stone pad surrounding the pole and lighting for the flag
itself.
Soren Aukamp is the son of Bret and
Sally Aukamp. Both parents were present for the pinning ceremony.
Soren chose as his mentors his father, leader Mark Mathon, and
fellow scout Riley Simpson.
Soreen explained that his project
had been painting parking pylons to be used throughout the town as
safety barriers where needed. Several of these pylons are utilized
as barrios to protect patrons who utilize the outdoor dining spaces
in front of some of the downtown eateries.
The third Eagle is Tommy Karrick,
the son of Darren and Catherine Karrick. His mother was unable to
attend the ceremony. Instead, his sister came forward with her
cellphone and mom Catherine on a facetime call so she could witness
the pinning. The sister received the mom pin on behalf of Catherine.
Tommy named Bret Aukamp and Jason Maxheimer as his mentors.
Tommy explained that he had chosen
to build new child-sized picnic tables for the youth programs at
Lincoln Christian Church. He said the old tables were looking pretty
rough and he thought maybe he could do something that would be
better and welcoming for the kids.
Following the pinning of parents and mentors, Pastor Kline was asked
to deliver a benediction, and the ceremony was ended with an
invitation for all to stay and enjoy the reception that followed.
The reception included a variety of
savory foods and snacks along with scout-themed decorated cookies
and a sheet cake created specifically to honor the new Eagles.
In scouting, the Eagle designation stays with a man for the duration
of his life. In the room there were multiple generations of Eagle
scouts, who took ample opportunity to congratulate the newest Eagles
and were also able to spend time connecting with current leaders and
fellow Eagles in the room.
Congratulations to Jackson Mathon, Soren Aukamp and Tommy Karrick
for jobs well done.
Nila Smith
|
