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Boy Scout troops have assisted St. John’s United Church of Christ
building and ground with clean-up of the property and sodding the
sunken garden. They also help with decorating the church at
Christmas.
Troop 6 began in 1912 with Walter Neihbur as its first scoutmaster.
By 1936, Troop 6 was discontinued for many years with the boys
transferring to other troops. This troop was later reestablished and
continued until recent years then disbanded. Until 2019, the troop
met at First United Methodist Church in Lincoln.
In 2019, Troop 1102 began meeting at St. John’s
United Church of Christ with Scoutmaster Jason Maxheimer leading
them.
All scouts present at the service were asked to stand
and be recognized.
The scouts then said the Boy Scout Oath, which states:
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally
straight.
Next, the scouts recited the Scout’s Law, which says:
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous,
kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
Jason Maxheimer far left
Jason Maxheimer, who is one of the Scoutmasters,
thanked the church for taking the scouts and being so helpful.
Maxheimer congratulated the boys who have worked hard on their merit
badges and requirements for Eagle Scout projects. He said he looks
forward to seeing what the younger scouts are going to do.
Former Scout leader Ray Papach next talked about
skills the scouts learn. He spent several years working with the
troop before moving away and said the troop has an amazing group of
young men. As the plaques show, several scouts have passed through
the ranks to Eagle Scout.
Before achieving the highest rank, Papach said there is a lot that
goes into this progression. Even those who do not attain the rank of
Eagle Scout still learn skills that will go with them the rest of
their lives.
Papach’s son became an Eagle Scout, but Papach said it got more
challenging for his son as they ventured up North. His son travelled
back and forth for a while to keep connections in Lincoln and finish
the Eagle Scout project. Papach’s son is currently in college
finishing a degree in Graphic Design.
Papach said his son had once looked at scouting as
something his dad wanted him to do and felt he would get through it.
Now, his son looks at it as a time he learned a lot and got to do a
lot.
Scouts have been able to go across the country. Papach said some
have even travelled around the world to go on different adventures.
Some scouts go to activities where they learn information the
average person does not get a chance to learn.
As Papach said, there are so many opportunities with scouting. He
thanked the church for sponsoring and partnering with the scout
troop. Papach said it can be difficult to find sponsors, and in some
places, troops are having to close down.
Papach then thanked the church for partnering with the scouts and
helping them have opportunities that will go with them for the rest
of their lives. He reminded church members that the seed they have
planted does prosper.
Troop Committee Chair Kristen Green thanked the
church for their partnership and relationship with the troop. Green
then read a synopsis of what it takes to become an Eagle Scout.
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Eagle Scout is the highest ranking a scout can
achieve. The rank was created in 1911. Green said since that time,
just 2.5 million scouts have been awarded the Eagle Scout rank in
the United States, which is just four percent of scouts.
To become an Eagle Scout, Green said a scout must
earn 21 merit badges, fourteen of which are mandatory. The scout
must also demonstrate the scout spirit that is in the scout law and
have an ideal attitude based on the law and oath.
In addition, Green said the scout must hold an office
and demonstrate leadership to their troop.
The scout must complete an extensive service project that the scout
plans, organizes, leads and manages. Green said they initially have
to make a detailed plan for the project that is reviewed by a scout
executive. After the project is completed, Green said there is a
rigorous examination process to make sure the scout’s project meets
the standards of being an Eagle Scout. Everything for the Eagle
Scout project must be done by the scout’s 18th birthday.
Green said Eagle Scouts are expected to set an example for other
scouts. She said many Eagle Scouts are disproportionally represented
in the military, higher education and academia, business and
politics. There is a higher number of Eagle Scouts than [there are
from] the general population who serve in those capacities.
Something else Green said Eagle Scouts are more likely to do is
volunteer for religious and non-religious organizations. She said
Eagle Scouts have closer relationships with family, demonstrate more
leadership at work and in the community and donate to charitable
groups.
Next, Green read a list of well-known people who
achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The list included astronaut Neil
Armstrong, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former
Massachusetts Governor and presidential runner Michael Dukakis and
40th United States President Gerald Ford. Other well-known people on
the list include Microsoft founder Bill Gates, filmmaker Stephen
Spielberg and Walmart founder Sam Walton.
Green expressed her heartfelt thanks both to the church for
sponsoring the boy scout troop and to the leaders and assistant
leaders who help make everything possible.
Pastor David Marquardt and church member Leland
Semple then were presented with the plaques. Semple said there are
numerous projects the scouts have helped the church with, and the
church members really appreciate this help.
Semple said the church enjoys having the scouts present and hopes
the co-op can continue for a long time.
Pastor Marquardt closed this part of the service with a prayer
saying, “Gracious God, you know those of us who grow a little older
and a little grayer often worry and wonder about future generations
and how they will uphold standards and lead our country. It is when
we see young people like this [the scouts] that we can take a deep
breath and know that we and our country will be in good hands.”
In closing the prayer, Pasto Marguardt praised God for these young
people asking him to keep them safe [and] keep their feet swift that
they might answer the call God has placed on their lives.
After the morning service, the church held a social
hour in the fellowship hall so everyone could visit with the scouts
and scout leaders.
The fellowship hall had displays of the troop’s past history, a
board with the different knots scouts learn, a special lighted
display with the scout logo, a poster of the troop participating in
various projects and activities around the community and an area
with honors and trophies awarded to some of the scouts.
The Boy Scout troops are truly a valuable part of the community with
all the projects they do such as working the grandstand at the Logan
County Fair for Toys for Tots and later distributing the toys.
Some may have seen the scouts working on the community garden in
Lincoln, helping with Pumpkin Smash, moving books in the Library and
working with setting up the book storyboards in Latham Park. Though
the scouts are not old enough to vote, they also help with election
nights and help the local Woman’s Club with food pantry.
Many get their hands dirty working on the trails at
Kickapoo Park or helping a group coming into Lincoln to do projects
and repairs. Others may have seen them doing other community
projects such as electronic recycling or document shredding.
The work the scouts do around the community is very much
appreciated.
[Angela Reiners]
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