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By LAUREN ROTH [email protected]
Monday, November 24, 2003 Page: 1A
PITTSTON – Matthew Collins, 18, of Wilkes-Barre, wants to be a lawyer. So
it was fitting that a judge presented him with the emblem of his Eagle Scout
rank Sunday night.
Collins was among about 30 young men to attend the annual Gathering of
Eagles ceremony, which honors the 106 newest Eagle Scouts from six counties in
Northeastern Pennsylvania – plus some of the oldest.
Ralph W. Robertson, a 1941 Eagle from Troop 16 in Scranton, was honored for
being the earliest Eagle Scout in the room.
For the new Eagles, there was pride Sunday when U.S. District Court Judge
Richard P. Conaboy handed them leather keychains with a silver eagle emblem
from Boy Scouts of America.
For his Eagle Scout project, Collins headed a cleanup at the St. Nicholas
Cemetery on Darling Street. “Paint was running off the fences, there was
rust, you couldn’t see graves over logs. Everything was in a shambles,” he
said. With a crew of about 40, the Civil War-era cemetery was cleaned up in a
few August weekends.
When they were done, it “looked totally brilliant,” Collins said. An
elderly couple from Massachusetts stopped by during the cleanup and were awed.
The man’s grandparents were buried there, and the couple made annual trips to
pay respects at the neglected cemetery.
“He showed such joy to see it,” said Collins. In addition to a
community-service project, Eagle Scouts must be active in their troop, live by
the Boy Scout Oath, earn 21 merit badges, show leadership and write an essay.
Like many of the other Eagles, Collins called a parent an inspiration for
his work. His father, Michael J. Collins, “always wanted me to get back into
Scouting” when he was alive. “He would be very proud,” Matthew said.
Ryan Wesley, 16, of Hanover Township, collected used and new baby items for
donation to single-parent families for his project. He said being a Scout has
helped teach him how to live.
“Do the right thing,” he said.
Pfc. James Kania, an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 433 in Mountain Top,
agreed.
“The foundation for a Scout is duty to God and country,” said the 2000
Eagle Scout. “When I look back at my life, those are the two main pillars,
the military and Scouting.”
He credits his Scouting skills for helping him in the Army National Guard,
where he is trained in fire direction control for the artillery. Training in
religion, orienteering and leadership gave him basics to build from, Kania
said.
His battalion, the Bravo Battery First of the 109th Field Artillery in
Nanticoke, is being mobilized. Kania, 19, will be sent to Iraq for about a
year.
Many young men are eager to follow his lead. Matt Ercolani, 18, of Troop
433, fulfilled a lifelong dream when he became an Eagle Scout.
“I wanted to see it through,” he said. “Even when I was a Cub Scout.”
Lauren Roth, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.
TIMES LEADER STAFF PHOTO/FRED ADAMS
Ralph W. Robertson, a 1941 Eagle Scout from Troop 16 in Scranton, listens
as the 106 newest Eagle Scouts in Northeastern Pennsylvania are honored Sunday
evening at the Victoria Inns & Suites in Pittston Township, at the annual
Gathering of Eagles.