Eagles Surrounded by friends, local leaders, relatives, and fellow Boys Scouts, Edward Joseph Stuart IV and Samuel Fung both were sworn in as Eagle Scouts during an Eagle Court of Honor held at the Knights of Columbus Council Hall in Freehold Sunday afternoon.
Both scouts are members of Troop18 under Scoutmaster Craig Billings.
Andrew Downey was master of ceremonies for the patriotic program, with SPL Michael Romero leading the crowd in the pledge pf Allegiance and Freehold Borough High School teacher Edward Gattsek played the national anthem.
Scout members with Andrew Downey leading followed the candlelit Trail to Eagle Boy Scouts take on their way to achieving the highest honor in Scouting, and the newly recognized Eagle Scouts gave their own Eagle Scout Minute in citing the people who have been role models and aides to them throughout their scouting careers.
Both Eagles received numerous awards from the Boroughs of Freehold and Freehold Township, as well as the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners and Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon.
Freehold Township officials set aside an individual day that each Eagle is being honored in the township.
Freehold Council president Sharon Schutzer told the new Eagles “You give us hope for tomorrow,” and praised the scouting traditions and appreciation of all history. She particularly commended the Eagles for their Eagle project, with both of them making separate and independent major improvements at the Oakley Farm Museum. The Council president brought a photo of Elizabeth Oakley, the last inhabitant of the Oakley family who lived in the house because she said she was sure of the local leader’s pride in the work the scouts have done in preserving the historic museum and farm site. Ms. Schutzer said she was confident the late historic personage was present and proud of the Eagles’ work.
Edward’s project was preserving the agricultural history of the Oakley Farm Museum by researching and displaying information on more than 80 tools and implements from the 19th century, taking more than 2,000 hours to research, photograph, laminate and frame’ images as well as restoring display enclosures and creating a welcome sign for the Museum’s entrance. The Eagle is in the Global Studies magnet program at Freehold Township high School where he is a junior. He is taking an AP course in US history and Honors International Law and Human Rights. He is also in the school’s marching and concert bands. Edward is a member of the drama club and Order of the Arrow ceremonies as a Brotherhood member as well as a lector at St. Rose of Lima Church.
Samuel, for his project constructed a drainage ditch in front of the historic site’s woodshed and re-laid a walkway in the garden, using original bricks on the site. The drainage will reduce safety and structural hazards around the woodshed foundation and the walkway to the garden will enhance the overall appearance for visitors as well as generally enhancing the landscaping.
Samuel is a senior in the Global Studies program at Freehold Township High and has taken classes in AP Human Geography, AP Comparative Government and Politics, and honors International Law and Human Right. He is a percussionist in the marching band, a CPR-certified member of Manalapan’s Teen CERT, the township’s emergency response team as well as a Language Department Volunteer Supervisor at Monmouth Fidelity Chinese School in Marlboro.
