Local Boy Receives Boy Scout’s Highest Honor


Boy Scout of America's Troop 1154 of Ashburn is pleased to announce that George Bacon 
received BSA's highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout, at his Court of Honor on 
November 4, 2007, held at St. David's Episcopal Church in Ashburn,VA. George is a 
charter member of Troop 1154 and the tenth Scout from 1154 to receive this honor. 
Troop 1154 is chartered by the Ashburn Ruritan Club.

George, a senior at Stone Bridge High School passed his final board of review on 
September 9, 2007. George's Eagle Scout project was a food drive for Loudoun Interfaith 
in the summer of 2006. He and the troop collected over 1 ton of food, which assisted over 
200 families in Loudoun County. 

George has been accepted to the College of Engineering at VA Tech, where he hopes to become 
an aerospace engineering student and a member of the Marching Virginians.

George is the son of Lisa and Robert Bacon of Ashburn,VA.

On August 13, 2007, around 4:00pm, Nicholas Hawkins, 12-year old Star Scout with Troop 1154 
of Ashburn, Virginia, saw his little 5-year-old brother Ben choking on a quarter and 
performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving his life.  Said Chuck Pede, Activities Chairman, 
"From the moment he joined our troop,  Nick has been a standout Scout.  He has also 
participated in first aid training through each rank and at Summer Camps.  What he was able 
to do when he saved his brother's life is a tribute to Nick, his parents and the benefits 
of the Scouting program.  There is no better way to raise responsible, caring and courageous 
Americans than in Scouting program - and Nick is the perfect example of that."
 
Ben wanted to show his family a magic trick.   He called everyone together, including his big 
brother Nicholas, his mother, and his two sisters.  As everyone gathered around, Ben started 
to cough and gag.   Ben bent his head down, and a quarter fell out his mouth.  His mother was 
shocked that he had put a quarter in his mouth and went over to talk to him.  Ben was still 
in distress unable to get any air and flailing his arms.  His mother started to panic, but 
Nicholas immediately realized that Ben was still in trouble and quickly went into action. 
Ben said, "I was so scared and I don't ever want to choke again, especially on a quarter."

Nicholas maneuvered behind Ben put his arms around his upper abdomen and performed the Heimlich. 
Ben, being so small was lifted right off the ground and the second quarter shot right across 
the room.   Despite Nicholas' lifelong fear of people choking, went right over to Ben knowing 
exactly what to do - and did it. 
 
Nicholas has received extensive First Aid training during Troop 1154's First Class program and 
attended advanced Boy Scout First Aid training at Camp Snyder, Virginia where he received the 
First Aid merit badge.  Dave Mihelcic, Scoutmaster said, "The motto of the Boy Scouts of America 
is "Be Prepared."  In Scouting we teach young men the values and skills necessary to Be Prepared 
for their future.  First Aid is one of many of these skills.  Nick is a remarkable young man and 
a shining example of what it means to Be Prepared!" 

Nicholas was also a Safety Patrol at Sanders Corner Elementary School where he also received the 
prestigious Principal's Award for Citizenship. Kathleen Hwang, Sanders Corner principal said, 
"Nick was one of the first students I met upon arriving at Sanders Corner and I was immediately 
impressed with his kindness, level of maturity and sense of responsibility.  He was comfortable 
with students as well as adults.  Nick demonstrated a natural sensitivity toward people and always 
went out of his way to offer help and encouragement."  
 
Ben is doing fine and even gave his big brother a hug saying, "When I grow up, I want to be a Boy 
Scout too".

Son of Troop 1154's  founder achieves scouting highest honor 

Boy Scout of America's Troop 1154 of Ashburn is pleased to announce that Patrick Bates 
received BSA's highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout, today, at his Court of Honor at 
Ashburn United Methodist in Ashburn, Virginia.  Patrick is the ninth Scout from 1154 to 
receive this honor.  

Patrick chose to refurbish the Eagle Trail at the Rust Nature Center as his Eagle Project.

Patrick's achievement is a significant milestone for Troop 1154.  His dad, Richard Bates 
founded the troop in 2000.  Additionally, Patrick and his Dad helped to start Cub Scout Pack 
1154 in 1995.  Pat is the first Eagle who was both a charter cub scout and charter boy scout 
from Troop 1154.  
 
As the families and friends gathered to honor Patrick's achievement with a poignant two-hour 
long ceremony filled with tradition, speeches, and presentations, they also celebrated the rich 
history and sense of pride in our community that is daily reflected upon and evidenced by  
scouting activities.  

The troop was chartered in 2000 by the Ashburn Ruritan Club which was chartered in 1993 to serve the 
rapidly expanding Ashburn population. Alan Scaggs, President of the Ashburn club serves as the 
liaison between Ruritan and the troop.  Alan explained that Ruritan has a broad mission.  
"If there is a need in the community we work to address that need," Alan said.  Alan told 
the story of the troops' charter at the ceremony and shared that Ruritan of Ashburn also 
provides services to the community from bringing meals to families who are coping with cancer to 
providing scholarships to high school students to the Rudy Ruritan teddy bear program.  Rudy 
Ruritan Teddy Bears are given to Ashburn Fire and Rescue, local deputies of the Loudoun County 
Sheriff's Office, and local troopers from the Virginia State Police. The bears are kept on the 
Fire Trucks and in the patrol cars and handed out to youngsters involved in fires or auto crashes. 
The bears are helpful because rescue personnel can tell how badly a child is injured is by their 
reaction to the Rudy Bears. If they are not interested in the bear, it is a clear indication that 
the child is in need of immediate attention.  

Mr. Scaggs presented Patrick with a plaque from the Ruritan Club.   "When the Ashburn chapter 
of Ruritan started there were three high schools in Ashburn.  Today there are seventeen," Alan 
told the group.  "It has been an honor and a priviledge to know you," he said to Patrick, 
"and I am pleased to present  you with this plaque.  You can hang it on your wall at Virginia Tech."

As stories were shared about Pat's journey to eagle, there were often tears of joy and peals 
of laughter.   Rich Bates summed up the powerful emotions that were evident in the crowd honoring 
Patrick at his eagle ceremony.  He said, "If it takes a village to raise a child, there is no 
better village than Ashburn."  

Patrick is a graduate of Stone Bridge High School where he was Brass Section Leader, playing 
sousaphone, for the award winning Marching Bulldogs.  Patrick also played bassoon in the Wind 
Symphony as well as trombone & bass in the Jazz Ensemble. 

On August 11, 2007, Patrick will report to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets where he will be a 
Midshipman in the NROTC program.  He will continue his music career in the Corps' marching band 
The Highty Tighties and in their jazz group The Southern Colonels.  Academically he plans to major 
in Chemistry and is in the Honors Program.  He is working towards a commission as an Ensign in 2011 
upon graduation and plans on serving as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy.

Patrick said "Boy Scouting has given me leadership skills that I will use the rest of my life."   

Pete LaPuma, Acting Scoutmaster of Troop 1154, presented Patrick with his Eagle Award saying, 
"Pat Bates is one of these rare charismatic leaders that people of any age just gravitate towards.  
When Pat walks in a room people just naturally want to be around him – he is funny, kind and giving 
to anyone.  One day on a backpacking trip in the mountains of New Mexico after a daunting 12-mile 
hike with a 2500' climb, a known water source had dried up.  His crew of 12 was exhausted and 
dangerously dehydrated.  Pat immediately volunteered to hike down 4 miles to bring the needed 30 
pounds of water to his 12-crew mates.  Patrick Bates is known for that kind of selfless giving 
– he is truly one in a million."   
   

Boy Scout of America's Troop 1154 of Ashburn is pleased to announce that Elias Clizbe
received BSA's highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout, today, at his Court of Honor 
at the Ashburn Library in Ashburn, Virginia.  Elias is the eighth Scout from 1154 to 
receive this honor.

Elias, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School passed his final board of review on 
April 1, 2007.  He was honored with family from North Carolina, friends, administrators 
and teachers at the ceremony.  Elias chose to paint and refurbish a computer lab at his 
school, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. In order to perform 
this project, all of the computer equipment was removed from the lab.  Upon completion 
of the painting, the equipment was moved back into the lab and all cables were dressed 
neatly.  

Elias was recently awarded a full scholarship from the United States Army and will 
attend Tulane University in the fall.  He will study architecture and plans to serve 
in the Army Corps of Engineers upon graduation.

Elias said "The discipline and leadership that I've learned in scouting on the 
way to Eagle will be helpful through college, ROTC, and my service in the Army."  
Ken Galer, Life to Eagle Coordinator for the troop said, "Eli is an overachiever.  He 
is gifted with high intelligence and uses it to achieve goals beyond his years."

David Mihelcic, Scoutmaster of Troop 1154, presented Elias with his Eagle Award saying, 
"Eli has been one of the Troop's most dedicated leaders.  I have no doubt that Eli's 
leadership abilities will bring him great success in his service to the country as an 
Officer in the US Army."

Boy Scout Troop 1154 of Ashburn is pleased to announce that Robert Steven Schwing
has earned Boy Scouting's highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout, today at a 
special Eagle Court of Honor at St. David's Episcopal Church.  

Robert, a junior at Briar Woods High School, passed his Eagle Scout board of review on 
April 29, 2007.  His accomplishment was recognized by letters of congratulations from many
national and local leaders, including President George Bush, Former Presidents Jimmy Carter
and George Bush and Senator John Glenn.  

One of the requirements for Eagle Scout is a service project that benefits the community.
Robert is very concerned about protecting our environment.  He planned and led a group of 
adults and scouts who cleared invasive vines from over 8 acres of the Rust Nature Center in 
Leesburg.  These invasive vines were damaging and killing the native plants and trees.  
Robert and his volunteers spent over 160 hours completing this project.  The area that they 
cleared is now a much better habitat for the many birds and animals that live there.  
Birdwatchers and other people who visit the Rust Nature Center in the future will have a much
nicer experience as a result.

Robert has been an active member of Troop 1154 for over 6 years.  He enjoys the outdoors and 
has participated in many Boy Scout high adventure activities.  He and 11 other scouts and 
adults from his troop leave for a two-week backpacking adventure at the Philmont Scout Ranch
in New Mexico next week.

Robert is part of a proud Scouting family and joins his father, Mark, uncle, Mack and brother,
Michael, as an Eagle Scout.  David Mihelcic, Scoutmaster of Troop 1154, presented Robert with
his Eagle Award saying, "Robert exemplifies the ideals of Scouting.  I am very proud not only
to call Robert one of my Scouts, but also my friend."

Stone Bridge H.S. Junior Completes Eagle Scout Project - Local Church Benefits from Community Service

A high school student completes his Eagle Scout project and helps out a local church at the same time. 

Nick Darr, a junior at Stone Bridge High School, is in process of completing the requirements to become 
an Eagle Scout - the highest rank within Boy Scouts of America. 

To become an Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership and outdoor 
skills as well as provide community service to an organization such as a religious institution. Only 
about 4% of Boy Scouts actually achieve this prestigious ranking. 

For his project, Nick chose to clear some of the currently unused and historical property surrounding 
St. David's Episcopal Church. "To meet the requirements of the Eagle Scout project, I wanted to do 
something that was both meaningful and demonstrated my connection to St. David's and this project gave 
me the chance to do both," he said. 

Dave Mihelcic, scoutmaster, Troop 1154 said, "Two of Scouting's highest ideals are community service 
and duty to God.  Nick's project shows his commitment to both of these ideals."