(above) Thomas Richard Garno of Millington, a member of Boy Scout Troop 59, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Thomas Richard Garno Achieves Eagle Scout Rank
Thomas Richard Garno of Millington, a member of Boy Scout Troop 59, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Thomas’ Eagle Court of Honor ceremony took place March 2, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church, Stirling, New Jersey.
The requirement to be granted the rank of Eagle includes the successful completion of at least 21 merit badges, demonstrated leadership ability, a service project encompassing at least 100 volunteer hours and a successful Eagle Board of Review – all prior to reaching the age of 18. The rank of Eagle Scout is reached by about 4 percent of the Scouting population.
Thomas’s Eagle Scout project required planning, designing, building, and the supervision of twenty-one workers to construct a fence around the parish playground at Saint Vincent De Paul Church in Stirling, NJ. This playground, previously unenclosed and open to a busy parking lot, is now a much safer place for children to play without being vulnerable to traffic in the neighboring lot. The project required a total of 329.5 hours of community service among those who volunteered, and also served to exemplify Thomas’s skill as a project leader.
A Boy Scout since 2013, Thomas worked his way through the ranks of Boy Scouts learning life skills along the way. He earned 25 merit badges and participated in numerous troop activities as well as four years at the Sabattis Adventure camp. Along with the expected skills of survival, first aid, backpacking etc., he gained confidence and practiced leadership in a variety of positions. Thomas was co-navigator for his Philmont Trek, a 100-mile backpacking trek in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of New Mexico, and was elected Patrol Leader, Scribe, and Quartermaster for his troop throughout his years in scouting. He volunteered in many Boy Scout sponsored activities including Scouting for Food, numerous Eagle Scout projects, placing flags at veterans’ graves in honor of their service, and several other non-Scouting service projects such as the Bridges Run, the Morris Catholic Annual Day of Service, and the St. Vincent de Paul Appalachia Mission Trip with the Bold Youth Ministry.
A high school senior attending Morris Catholic High School in Denville, NJ, Thomas has been recognized for his academic achievement with several academic excellence awards from his school, as an AP Scholar by the College Board, and has attained membership in numerous honor societies such as the National Honors Society, the Latin National Honors Society, and the Science National Honors Society. He participates in athletics year-round for Morris Catholic, and holds varsity letters in Cross Country, Basketball, and Track. He has served as Team Captain for both the Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Track teams.
Submitted by Craig and Janet Garno
