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JACKMAN – Christopher Somerset, son of Todd and Sandra Somerset, received Scouting’s highest award, the Eagle Scout badge, during a ceremony held at the Arno E Hughey American Legion Post on July 31.
Chris’ Eagle Scout project was the Moose River Beautification project. Chris and his team built and rebuilt flower boxes at Armand Pomperleau Town Park and placed half barrels of flowers through the Moose River valley to welcome visitors and enhance the main street.
Chris is entering his senior year at Forest Hills High School. His Social Science teacher, Ami Amero, delivered the keynote address for the ceremony.
“This is a highly respected and national milestone for Scouts to achieve,” said Amero, who has taught at Forest Hills High School for 25 years. She praised the impact Scouting has had not only on the youth of the community but also the impact of those youth on the community itself. She also thanked the leaders of Scouting for giving their time for the sole purpose of developing tomorrow’s leaders.
“We have a phenomenal Scouting program,” she said. “Chris is honest, trustworthy and loyal. Christopher makes a positive difference and works well with others. His attitude of caring has been evident many times through his high school career.”
Scoutmaster Karla Talpey said, “The Eagle award is the culmination of the efforts of this young man with the support of his parents and leaders.” She urged the younger members of Troop 497 to follow in Chris’s exampl. Talpey said the Eagle Scout service project is not only physically challenging, but also requires the Scout to be a leader. The project represents 140 hours of service to benefit the Jackman area.
“The new flower boxes and flower barrels scattered through the community are so appreciated and have received many compliments,” said Gay Hodgkins, of Valley Ruffled Feathers, the organization that benefited from the project.
State Senator Brad Farrin, R-Norridgewock, attended the ceremony and presented Chris with a Legislative sentiment and flag, and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, sent a representative.
Chris’ mother, Sandra, pinned the Eagle Scout rank on her son’s uniform and Pine Tree Council Scout Executive Matt Klutzaritz presented him with the official Eagle Scout certificate and placed the Eagle Scout neckerchief around his neck.
“Scouting to me means to me that you are a hard-working person, you are loyal to your friends and trustworthy to people that don’t know you,” Chris said after the ceremony.
