Scouting Alumni

06/01/2026

Today is the first day of the month, when American Legion posts across the country observe Be the One, a movement focused on preventing veteran su***de and encouraging all of us to take action when a veteran may be struggling.

The premise is straightforward. Reach out. Start the conversation. Listen. Show veterans they matter.

As I reflected on the importance of Be the One, I came across a story that perfectly demonstrates its impact.

Fourteen-year-old Scout Cameron Berry selected veteran su***de awareness as the focus of his Eagle Scout service project. Instead of constructing a physical monument, he chose to create something just as meaningful, a community united around supporting veterans.

Cameron organized a Be the One Walk to End Veteran Su***de in Alexandria, Virginia. After months of planning and coordination with local officials, veteran service organizations, and community leaders, nearly 200 people gathered to participate.

Before the walk began, Cameron shared why the project mattered to him -

“This walk is my way of using leadership to unite our community, and service to show our veterans that they are not alone.”

Those words capture the essence of Be the One.

The event brought together veterans, families, community members, and support organizations. Participants signed a banner pledging their commitment to helping end veteran su***de and ensuring veterans know they are supported.

Leadership is not defined by age, position, or title. It is defined by a willingness to serve others and bring people together around a meaningful purpose.

Cameron's project demonstrates that each of us has the ability to make a difference. Sometimes it begins with a simple question, a conversation, or a gesture that lets someone know they are not alone.

That is what it means to Be the One.

Learn more 👇

https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/be-the-one/2025/june/14-year-old-earns-eagle-scout-rank-by-showing-veterans-they-are-not-alone

05/31/2026

Scouting is full of traditions, and one of the oldest unfolds every summer on Michigan’s Mackinac Island.

The Mackinac Island Scout Service Program is now underway for the season on Mackinac Island, continuing a legacy that began in 1929 when future President Gerald Ford was part of the first troop.

Often known as the Governor’s Honor Guard, selected Scouts from across Michigan take part in a highly competitive program. Their responsibilities include raising flags at Fort Mackinac, assisting with daily island operations, leading tours, and supporting community service projects.

Each morning begins with a cannon signal and a coordinated flag-raising ceremony that brings together dozens of scouts in a precise, unified display. Participants live in historic barracks on the island and rotate weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

For many, the experience becomes more than a summer program. It is a lasting connection to service, history, and leadership that stays with them long after they leave the island.

Watch the story 👇

https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/mackinac-island-scout-service-program-returns-as-tourism-season-begins-boy-scout-girl-scout-governor-honor-guard-

05/30/2026

A recent WGHP-TV feature highlighted an inspiring Scouting journey from Troop 219 in Oak Ridge, North Carolina.

Sylvia DiRosa is working toward the rank of Eagle Scout while managing the daily challenges of Lyme disease and lingering complications from COVID. These conditions are often referred to as “hidden illnesses” because their effects are not always visible, even though they can deeply impact daily life.

Her Eagle Scout service project grows directly out of her own experience and is designed to give voice, understanding, and support to others living with hidden illnesses. Through her work, she is helping build greater awareness and compassion for people whose struggles are not always seen or understood. Attendees at the 2026 National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia will also have the opportunity to engage with her project this summer.

Sylvia’s journey has been strengthened by the support of Troop 219, founded in 2019 with a clear mission to welcome all young women in grades 5 through 12, including those with special needs and different abilities.

The WGHP story reminds us of what Scouting can look like at its best - young people developing resilience, leading meaningful service, and creating impact in their communities, supported by troops that truly live out inclusion and belonging.

If you know a young person living with a hidden illness, or someone who wants to better support others who do, tell them about Scouting America.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E_YLcoEYg0

Mapping the Unseen: Chronic Lyme Through Art on this week's Buckley...

05/29/2026

Joshua Myers of Troop 69 in Germany, part of the Transatlantic Council of Scouting America, recently wrapped up an Eagle Scout service project that will continue helping military families for years to come.

Working with Operation Deploy Your Dress in Landstuhl, Joshua organized volunteers and led the move into a larger permanent space. The project included building changing rooms, moving hundreds of formal dresses and suits, and setting up a shop where military families can find free attire for proms, military balls, and special occasions.

What stands out most is how much responsibility fell on Joshua throughout the process. Coordinating people, solving problems on the fly, and figuring out how to safely move an entire inventory turned the project into a real exercise in leadership.

The new location gives Operation Deploy Your Dress more room, better accessibility, and the freedom to expand its services across the military community in the region.

Well done, Joshua.

Read more 👇

https://europe.stripes.com/kids/eagle-scout-joshua-myers.html

05/28/2026

An all-girl Scouts BSA troop in Livermore, California, is helping showcase how Scouting has expanded opportunities for young women since girls were officially welcomed into the program in 2019. Troop 2942, which meets at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, is one of the few stand-alone female troops in the region.

Many longtime Scouting alumni are still unaware that girls can now fully participate in Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA programs. Troop 2942 is one example of how girls across the country are embracing the same experiences that generations of Scouts have valued for decades.

The troop began with just five scouts and grew to nearly 50 members within a few years. Today, scouts lead troop meetings, organize campouts, teach outdoor skills, and compete in regional events. Activities include backpacking, hiking, first aid, outdoor cooking, knot-tying, fire building, and camping competitions known as camporees.

For scouts like Ally Matteucci, the program opened doors to experiences she had always wanted. After watching her brothers participate in outdoor adventures through Scouting, she was excited to finally have the same opportunity herself.

The troop’s leaders say one of the most rewarding parts of the program has been watching the girls take ownership of the troop. Older scouts now mentor younger members, teach skills, and lead activities themselves. Adult volunteers serve mainly as mentors and supporters while the scouts run the program day-to-day.

Let's continue to spread the word that Scouting is now open to all eligible youth. Sharing that message can help more young people discover the adventure, leadership, friendships, and lifelong skills that Scouting provides.

Read more about Troop 2942 👇

https://www.independentnews.com/news/livermore_news/livermore-s-all-female-scout-troop-is-paving-its-own-path/article_00a4e54b-6d90-47de-83f7-facbd643a008.html

05/27/2026

We’ve shared stories about miniature Statue of Liberty replicas before, and here's another one worth sharing.

In 1950, as part of the Boy Scouts of America’s 40th anniversary celebration, a nationwide initiative called “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty” placed hundreds of small Statue of Liberty replicas in towns and cities across the United States.

The project was led by Jack P. Whitaker, a Scout Commissioner from the Kansas City Area Council, who envisioned a way to promote patriotism and civic engagement during the early Cold War era. He coordinated funding, molds, and installations with Scout councils across the country.

Between 1949 and 1952, roughly 200 copper statues were produced by the Friedley-Voshardt Company of Chicago. Known as the “Little Sisters of Liberty,” each stood about 8½ feet tall and was constructed from sheet copper over a wooden frame. Local Scout troops typically raised the $300 to $350 needed for each installation.

Many of these statues have been lost or restored over time, but around 100 still remain across the United States in parks, campuses, and public spaces.

The Mid-America Council is working to return a statue to a local park. Watch their story here:

https://www.wowt.com/video/2026/05/26/fundraising-campaign-underway-bring-statue-liberty-replica-statue-back-turner-park/

05/27/2026

Scouting alum Josh Hart’s journey to becoming an NBA leader started long before the league.

Before winning a national title at Villanova and building a reputation as one of the NBA’s ultimate glue guys, Hart earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in scouting.

His biggest takeaway?

“It’s all about leading and hard work.”

Hart credits scouting for teaching him discipline, sacrifice, accountability, and the importance of finishing what you start. Those same traits helped shape his career from overlooked draft pick to one of the NBA’s most respected team-first players.

Read more 👇

https://www.basketballnetwork.net/off-the-court/josh-hart-on-how-being-an-eagle-scout-helped-him-in-basketball

05/26/2026

Eagle Scout candidate Dakari Bryant wanted to create something welcoming and lasting at Cass Community Social Services.

On March 1, Dakari led Scouts, volunteers, and community supporters in redesigning the space into a calm and comfortable learning environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The idea behind the project was straightforward: create a space where people feel respected, supported, and able to focus and grow.

“This project wasn’t just about painting a room,” Dakari shared. “It was about creating a place where people feel comfortable, respected, and able to learn.”

A lot of people stepped in to help make it happen. Home Depot and Ace Hardware donated materials, Scouts from Troop 194 worked together to prep and paint the room, and several Eagle Scouts from across the area volunteered their time and experience throughout the project.

Dakari’s Scouting journey began in Houston with Pack 242 and Troop 242 before his family relocated to Detroit, where he joined historic Troop 194 under Scoutmaster Damion Morse.

Now a senior at University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, Dakari plans to attend Morehouse College to study aerospace engineering.

Read more:

https://michiganchronicle.com/detroit-eagle-scout-dakari-bryant-transforms-space-for-adults-with-disabilities/

05/25/2026

In 1944, 20-year-old Army Pfc. John A. Walko, an Eagle Scout from Indiana County, left home to fight in World War II and never returned.

For more than 80 years, his family lived without answers after he was killed during the Battle of Aachen and buried overseas as an unknown soldier.

Last week, thanks to advances in DNA identification, Walko finally came home.

His 96-year-old sister, Sally Gaydosh, met his flag-draped coffin on the tarmac at Pittsburgh International Airport and kissed it before his final journey home for burial beside their parents.

“My poor mother prayed so hard,” she said. “Now we can all get off our knees.”

Welcome home, Pfc. John A. Walko.

Read more of his story 👇

https://www.post-gazette.com/life/goodness/2026/05/19/john-walko-army-indiana-pa-wwii/stories/202605240023

05/25/2026

Every Memorial Day weekend in Hawaii, something remarkable happens at Punchbowl Cemetery.

Thousands of Scouts, leaders, alumni, and volunteers gather at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to place flags and flower leis on the graves of America’s veterans. For many in Scouting, this is far more than a service project. It is a tradition rooted in respect, gratitude, family, and remembrance.

Some of the Scouts participating are continuing a legacy started by their parents and grandparents decades ago. Many have personal connections to the veterans buried there. Among those honored is Eagle Scout Ellison Onizuka, Hawaii’s first astronaut, who lost his life aboard the Challenger in 1986.

At nearly 40,000 graves, there is care shown with every flag placed and every lei laid by hand. Scouts are taught to slow down, show reverence, and remember that every grave represents a life of service and sacrifice.

Scouting teaches young people that leadership begins with service, citizenship carries responsibility, and honoring others matters.

Learn more:

https://onscouting.org/2026/05/22/hawaii-scouts-honor-veterans-at-national-memorial-cemetery-of-the-pacific/