by Bea Peterson
Gregg Pirie, a 2014 graduate of Hoosick Falls Central School and a freshman at Paul Smith College was home on break to receive his Eagle Scout Award on Sunday, April 11. The long awaited ceremony was held at the Community Alliance Church. Gregg is a member of Hoosick Falls Boy Scout Troop 63.
[private]Senior Patrol Leader and Troop 63 Committee Chair Bernie Davock called the ceremony to order. The invocation was said by Fr. Tom Zelker. Master of Ceremonies was Cheryl Downing. Benediction was given by Rev. Jonathan Youngmann. A reception with refreshments followed the program.
During the ceremony Bernie Davok gave the following statistics. Only four out of every 100 boys in the USA will become Scouts. For every 100 that enter scouting, 30 drop out the first year, 45 will serve in the military and 17 will serve later as adult volunteers. Twelve scouts will be from families that belong to no church, while six families continue contact with a church. Eight will find future vocations from scouts, five will receive church emblems and three will become Pastors. Two out that 100 will report they used a scout skill to save his own life and one will use a scout skill to save the life of another.
While only four out of 100 boys become scouts, three out of four leaders of business, religion and politics were scouts at one time. Sixty-five percent of all college and university graduates were scouts. Twenty-six of the first 27 astronauts were scouts at one time. Fifty-eight percent of West Point graduates were scouts, as were 64% of Air Force Academy graduates and 70% of Annapolis graduates. Seventy-two percent of Rhodes Scholars were Scouts as were 85% of FBI agents.
Last year 6.01% of Boy Scouts achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
To achieve his Eagle Scout Award Gregg had to earn at least 21 merit badges and be active in his troop after achieving the rank of Life Scout. Gregg also achieved the Order of the Arrow and was a Patrol Leader. Since his Troop often spent time at the Pioneer Fish and Game Club, a project with them was Gregg’s choice. Under his guidance he and the Troop built 30 wood duck houses to be distributed and placed where the ducks nest, particularly on small ponds and in wooded swampy areas. This is a project close to the heart of the Club.[/private]