Sidney Boy Scout troop specializes in Eagle Scouts

WATERVILLE — St. Mark’s Episcopal Church was nearly filled on Saturday, March 16, as the latest Eagle Scout, Adam DeWitt, of Sidney, received the medal, patch and certificate achieved by only 6.49 percent of eligible Scouts in 2018 — 141 Maine Scouts.

Two of those looking on in understand better than most. Adam’s brothers, Alexander and Spencer, are both Eagle Scouts. One family with three Eagles is rare but in Troop 401, there are now three such families.
Since 2013, Sidney Troop 401, chartered by the Second Baptist Church, has 17 attaining Eagle rank. The Allaries, DeWitts and, most recently, the Coutures, have entered Troop 401’s circle of families with three sons who are Eagle Scouts. Edmund Couture, son of Joseph and Mary Anne, passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review last month, making him the most recent in the troop to complete all requirements for Eagle. His brothers, Joseph and William, made Eagle before him. The Allaries can boast brothers Josh, Brian and Matthew, who are all Eagle Scouts. Their younger brother Isaac is a Webelo in Cub Scout Pack 401 in Sidney, so there is the potential for a fourth. Matthew Allarie’s Eagle Scout ceremony will be April 28. And now that girls have begun forming troops, there will be female Eagle Scouts in Sidney in short order.

Spencer DeWitt said, “Being an Eagle to me means brotherhood. There have been so many instances out in the world where I’ve met another Eagle Scout and we instantly became friends because of this shared experience.” Spencer completed his requirements for Eagle Scout in 2014 after he built four benches for the courtyard of Messalonskee High School as part of his project.
Alex DeWitt agreed, saying being an Eagle Scout has been invaluable in his career path. “It has been useful in learning about brotherhood and what it means to be part of a team. Being a firefighter and paramedic in Westbrook, my entire job relies on everyone knowing their job and working as part of a team. I’ve learned that teamwork does not come naturally to most people, and having this life-long training in scouting really prepared me for my job. I’ve been told many times by bosses and leaders that just by being an Eagle Scout, I instantly made myself a more desirable candidate, especially in the fire service.” His Eagle Scout project was building a ladder storage unit for his vocational firefighter class in high school.
Their mother, Sarah DeWitt, said that what started as a Monday night activity for John and Alex when the family moved to Sidney as Alex started second grade, became a family activity.

“The pack and then troop families became tightly bonded with each family looking after and supporting each other’s boys,” she said. “Adam referenced several times in his ceremony the number of dads he has in our troop. As one after another boy starting getting within reach of Eagle, the families seemed to circle the wagons around that Eagle Candidate and help see them through to the end when the often frustrated parents would be ready to tap out. We didn’t do this alone.”
She said she doesn’t worry about her sons. “I know they have have a unique set of skills that will serve them in almost any situation.”
Dan Allarie, Cubmaster of Pack 401 and Eagle Scout Coach for Troop 401 said, “Most kids are lucky if they have one positive adult role model growing up. My sons have all grown up with multiple Sidney scouting parents that had their backs. They grew up knowing that these adult leaders cared about them, cared about their futures and most importantly, cared enough to invest their time, effort, and energy to help them be the best version of themselves that they could be.”
Ryan Poulin, former scoutmaster of Troop 401, is an Eagle Scout, as is his son, Dawson. His daughter, Addison, has joined Cub Scouts. “For years my daughter attended Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremonies. When she was real young she stated, ‘Daddy, I am going to be an Eagle Scout someday.’ I had the difficult task of explaining to her that would never be an option because she was a girl. She is now a Webelo Scout because of the vision and foresight of the BSA. Her dream has now become a reality. The skills and fun program are much needed in today’s society for our young people, regardless of gender, because of the challenging world we live in. Scouting has had a profound impact on me personally and professionally, and I want to make sure the same opportunities that I had all of our children should be able to share in the same opportunities.”

TOP PHOTO John and Sara DeWitt with their Eagle Scout sons Alex, Adam and Spencer during Adam’s ceremony on March 16 in Waterville. (Submitted photo)