Eagle Scouts
It was a conversation with the former pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help St. Agnes Church that gave Kevin Connelly the idea for his project to attain the Eagle Scout rating, the highest award in Boy Scouts.
Kevin, son of Kevin and Michelle Connelly of Highlands, earned his Eagle Scout award before graduating from Henry Hudson Regional School in 2019. However, because of the Covid epidemic, he was never able to be honored at an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony until a Court of Honor on January 6 in the OLPH auditorium with approximately 100 people in attendance.
Kevin had approached the Rev. Fernando Lamas, then pastor of the Highlands church, and asked for suggestions on a project that would help others, be difficult, and would take several workers. Father suggested Kevin take on the renovation of the cabinets at the church’s Food Pantry, located in the basement of the church.
It was a challenge he relished, the boy scout said, and he gathered his working team of eight scouts, did his research on types of wood, proper renovating techniques and other information and set about completing the task. Kevin said once he had it planned, the actual work only took a few days. Sanding the old wood to perfection was probably the most difficult part of the job.
Now an ironworker with Local 11 of the ironworkers union, Kevin praised Troop 22’s Thomas A. Welch, Jr. for being a mentor for him. Welch is assistant troop master of Troop 22, as well as Eagle Advisor and Committee head, and presented Kevin with his Eagle Award.
Kevin earned an undergraduate degree at Brookdale after high school graduation before beginning his current work with Local11.
In the book each Eagle Scout presented as part of his display at the Court of Honor, Kevin received letters of commendation from Governor Murphy, who praised his courage, resourcefulness and integrity and admired his talent, as well as congratulatory letters from Attorney General Garland former President Donald Trump, and the Massachusetts Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
