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Western Springs Scouts earn Eagle rank
Vance Smith, Riley Marshall, Matthew Pesch and Michael Clancy are brought in by the Color Guard during the Eagle Scout Ceremony at St. John of the Cross. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: April 1, 2013 6:14AM
WESTERN SPRINGS — Troop 117 sponsored by St. John of the Cross Church awarded the Eagle rank on Saturday to four Scouts from Western Springs.
The ceremony, which included their parents, honored Michael Clancy, Riley Marshall, Matt Pesch and Vance Smith.
Attaining the rank of Eagle requires Scouts to meet exacting requirements, demonstrating scouting skills, showing leadership, and performing community service. The community service requirement calls for Scouts to develop, propose, execute, and report on a project that meets a need and performs a service in their communities.
Clancy, a senior at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, collected cleaning products and paper goods for a battered women’s shelter in Chicago. Collection boxes were put at the St. John of the Cross school, parish center, and church as well as the Thomas Ford Library and the Recreation Center. More than 750 items were collected.
Marshall, a freshman at Benet Academy in lisle, collected personal care items (toothpaste, shaving cream, soap, deodorant, etc.) for the Hines Veteran Hospital and Fischer House. Boxes were put in the St. John of the Cross church, parish center and school. More than 3,750 items which filled 50 boxes were delivered in October.
Pesch, a senior at Lyons Township High School, built four sorting tables on wheels for the Community Nurse annual Secret Santa Project. He solicited donations from Home Depot of Countryside, Horton’s of La Grange Ace Hardware and the Western Springs Village True Value. Construction and painting of the tables was done over the course of three Saturdays.
Smith, a freshman at Lyons Township High School, built four wooden benches for the courtyard at St. John of the Cross. He completed his project in August.
