Eagle Scout

[Woody]

I don't usually discuss my personal life in public, but this time I'll make an exception.  My son "Splinter" (as he's called because he's a chip off the ol block, me=Woody), has just earned the rank of Eagle Scout!  Back when he was a Tiger scout he was asked what his goal was-he wanted to be an Eagle scout, and has worked hard towards it ever since!  We've been told most Eagle scouts are 16 years old or older.  It's not very common for someone this young to achieve this honor.  He's only 13.

Anyhow I wanted to share that with everyone and I'm sure he'll be a lil embarrassed when he reads this.  Oh well...it's a good thing!  I'll try to get a picture up soon. 

*I'm very proud of you son, and equally impressed with your drive and determination!   

[Don Stenseth]

Congratulations to him!!! That is something to be very proud of.

[Outdoors Junkie]

Way to go Splinter!  Congrats!!!   

[Grute Man]

FENOMENAL!!  That's great.  Give him a big pat on the back from the Grute Man. 

(Root beer for the kid) ---> 

Grute 

[dakids]

WOW!!!!
That is something to be proud of!!!
He should be very proud of himself.  Eagle scouts are the cream of the crop.  He will be able to put it in every job or college application for the rest of his life.

[Duckslayer]

AWESOME!  Congratulations "Splinter" on a job well done!!!
And to you as well Woody as I know that all Scouts have some help/mentoring along the way!!!
Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Splinter]

Thanks everybody!  It was kinda weird for me when the Eagle Board of Review said "We would like to congratulate you Justin",  because I felt like nothing had changed. I told my scout master this and he said "Its not the badge that makes the eagle scout, its the feeling of accomplishing something great". I thought that was a very good choice of words. And the more I think about it, I think he's right.

                                             Thanks everybody,
                                                      Splinter

[deadeye]

Congrats Splinter.  Remember a lot of things will come and go in your life but you will always be an Eagle Scout!

[KSW]

Congrats Splinter. 

My younger brother and I both earned our Eagle Scout as well.  It's an accomplishment to be proud of.

[HD]

That's cool Splinter!

Something to be proud of!
(maybe show the "old" man a thing or two)   

Hunter

[Woody]

He already has!  Since he's got a lil over 4 years to go until he can no longer be in scouts (18 yo is the age limit) he's considering finishing out as a Den Cheif for our local cub scout troop.  Of course from here he can go on to earning Palms.  I've only been here to support him and help him when I can.  Other than that he's done this on his own.  As far as showing me a thing or two- he never ceases to amaze me!  I look up to him in soooo many ways!   

[Bobby Bass]

  outstanding..

[GRIZ]

That's cool Splinter!

Something to be proud of!
(maybe show the "old" man a thing or two)   

Hunter

Yea since scouts are good at tying knots with a little work could prolly teach the woody a fishermans knot.

Way to go justin

[groma]

13 ! That is quite the achivement at that age. You have every right to be proud of him . I would be braging as well.

Congats. to your son. Having your Eagle is something that will be a  benifit his whole life.

[Woody]

I finally got around to digging up a picture of his Eagle Service Project.  The Brandon, Mn Volunteer Fire Dept. needed the floor repainted.  The floor became slippery when wet once the trucks and equiptment returned from a fire call.  In fact I know of one occasion where a fireman slipped and hurt himself due to this.  So besides giving it a new paint job, they added a non slip additive to the paint.  (It's kind of like sand or silica)

As you can see in the picture, the walkways are painted red, and the spaces for trucks and equiptment are painted gray.  After the pictures were taken, yellow striping was added to mark the seperate areas.

Besides having help from his scout troop, some of the volunteer firemen were on hand to lend there help as well.  It was a great effort by both groups to accomplish this task.  (In case you are wondering, painting a floor requires alot more work than one thinks.  There is cleaning the old floor, then acid etching-to give the new paint something to adhere to, then masking out the new areas) The work started on Friday night, and finished on Sunday.  The project was done back in July.  The paint should last for quite a few years as the floor got a couple of good coats on it.   


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[Randy Kaar]

congrats to splinter! nice job!
didnt know brandon had a fire dept. ! 

randy

[Woody]

We finally got around to getting Splinters' Court of Honor scheduled.  It was this past weekend.  Here are a couple of pictures. 

This one he's getting a "Dutch Rub" from a fellow Eagle Scout.




This one he's pinning a "Mentor" Pin on his sister.  They are best friends as well as siblings.




And here he is being his goofy self!  Chip off the old block...hence the name Splinter-Woody. 

[Bena]

This is Bena, Splinter's mom. He worked very hard on the project and never gave up. He put in alot of hours. Even is sister Peanut was there to help him out. He was very independent.He wanted to do this by himself for the most part. We are very proud parents. The floor will last 15 to 20 years before it has to be painted again.   

[sandmannd]

You two should be very proud, that is a great accomplishment. I got mine many years ago, it brings back fond memories. Great to know there are parents bring up children with great values. Congrats to Splinter.

I'm not sure how it is now days, but back when Reagan was in office, our scout masters contacted them when kids got Eagle. They would fly a flag at the White House for a day with our name on it, then send us the flag with a letter congratulating us from President Reagan. Might be worth a shot, I think they went through our congressman. I still have the flag and the letter.

[Woody]

They still do that, but for a fee (go figure).  That bothered me as anyone can get a flag flown and a letter and not even have to accomplished anything to get it.     I think when you accomplish something as important as this, the very least they could do is give one to the Eagle Scout.  Afterall only a few make it to Eagle Scout each year! 

[sandmannd]

I agree, that is rediculous. Well, I suppose they have to raise a trillion one way or another. But yea, for Eagles, war heros, vets, anyone who acheives what most don't should not have to pay.

[Woody]

I agree, that is rediculous. Well, I suppose they have to raise a trillion one way or another.

I don't know if you still have to pay now with a new president in office.  I inquired about flags about 8 months ago when GW Bush was in office.  I know you can get them from Senators and Congressmen/women too.  (for a fee)

Splinter has recieved letters of commendation from ex presidents and other political dignataries, astronauts, Business CEO's (none that got bailed out yet), and even an autographed photo of a Minnesota Twins player (can't remember which one off hand), and many more people I can't recall at the moment.

[sandmannd]

Very cool and very well deserved for him.

[kenhuntin]

I have the highest respect for a young man that accomplishes the rank of Eagle. He now joins the ranks with Dwight David Eisenhower. I hope I remember correctly and that he was an Eagle as well. I think there are a couple of U.S. presidents that were Eagles. Splinter has a big jump on his peers for a bright future. Congratulations on a very large accomplishment!

[KTapper]

That is quite an accomplishment! Back in the day I was in Boy Scouts only made it to Life scout. I really wish I would have just finished, but school, work, and sports interfeared.

[thunderpout]

Ditto... I made it to life also, and I too wish I made it all the way, at the time I thought I had bigger fish to fry...years later I realized I was wrong... But I did learn alot of really good things in the scouts that you probably would never learn elsewhere, or at least would take years to learn from other sources, youre many steps ahead of most other kids your age....Good goin Splinter, and good goin Woody for seeing him thru it all...

[Steelman]

Justin -- I am proud to know you. Congrats for a job well done.

Mike

[Splinter]

Thank you everyone. I know becoming an Eagle Scout is a big accomplishment, but i guess it hasn't hit me yet that I am one. I remember when I got my Eagle Scout rank, and the following morning I had to ask my parents " Am I an Eagle Scout? Because if it was a dream......That would stink so badly!!" Mom and Dad said " Ya, you made it." I was like  . And a little bit of this..... Thanks again everyone.