Boy Scouts awarded merit badges during Court of Honor

Boy Scout Troop 580 members are pictured. From left in front are Scoutmaster Richard Masterson, Miles Smith, Brandon Albanesi and Ethan Gilbert; back, Art Albanesi, Jacob True, Shaun Patrick Child, Ayden Timberlake, Committee Chairman Richie Philbrick and Assistant Scoutmaster Shane Smith.

RUMFORD — Boy Scout Troop 580 of Rumford held a Court of Honor on April 9 to celebrate recent achievements of the boys with their families. All six boys and registered adult committee members for the troop were given new troop T-shirts from Scoutmaster Richard Masterson. These Class B shirts are to wear at scouting events when a formal uniform is not required, such as camping and hiking.

Senior Patrol Leader Jacob True ran the Court of Honor and handed out badges to the other Boy Scouts. True’s badges were given to him by Patrol Leader Shaun Patrick Child.

The four newest Scouts in the troop, Ayden Timberlake, Brandon Albanesi, Miles Smith and Ethan Gilbert, earned their first merit badge, the first aid badge. This badge is an Eagle Scout required merit badge and includes completing all the first aid requirements for the first three ranks in Boy Scouts. The boys completed the American Heart Association certification for both CPR and first aid.

Other merit badges awarded included: Shaun Patrick Child, Citizenship in the Nation and Citizenship in the World; Ayden Timberlake, Law; and Jacob True, Forestry and Engineering. Child and Timberlake earned their badges at a merit badge college and True earned his badges at Camp Hinds. Once a boy earns three merit badges, the troop will buy them their merit badge sash.

Also awarded was the Cyber Chip patch for True for completing requirements for internet safety. All six boys were given a Scouting for food patch for their participation in distributing flyers door to door to promote the food collection at the annual free community dinner in November. All area Scouts, including Girl Scouts, collected more than 350 pounds of food that was split between the food pantries in Mexico and Peru.

Timberlake received a patch for attending the Scout Sunday service at Holy Savior Church on March 4. Scout Sunday is celebrated each year to honor the fact that a Boy Scout is reverent. A different denomination is picked each year to expose the young men to different religions.

The Court of Honor wrapped up with the awarding of new ranks. Timberlake and Miles Smith earned the Tenderfoot rank. This rank is the first step on the Trail to Eagle. Child earned his First Class rank. Child now has just Life and Star ranks to earn before he goes for Eagle Scout.

Eagle Scout True earned his fifth Eagle palm. This is a rare achievement in Boy Scouting with less than one percent of Eagle Scouts earning palms. To earn an Eagle Palm, True had to remain active in his troop for three months for each palm and earn an additional five merit badges per palm. True has currently earned 46 merit badges. He has opted to remain active in the troop as senior patrol leader to teach and mentor the younger scouts and give back to the scouting program for all it has done for him.

The troop has been active this year, camping at the Mexico Rec Park, at the Camp Gustin Fall Camporee and winter camping in February. The boys participated in the Christmas in the Valley Parade, veterans ceremony, and Four Chaplains Ceremony. The boys are looking forward to summer camp at Camp Hinds, Scout-o-Rama in May and Clark’s Trading Post merit badge day in June.

Any boys 11 years or older who may be interested in Boy Scouting are encouraged to drop in to check out the meetings from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays at the Holy Savior School (use the left side entrance). For more information, call Scoutmaster Richard Masterson at 207-418-5212.