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Lifelong scouts, friends achieve Eagle status
Three lifelong friends from Reston and Herndon recently achieved Scouting's highest rank together.
Family and friends from Boy Scout Troop 1970 in Reston gathered at United Christian Parish Church on Sunday, May 25, to be part of the Eagle Court of Honor for Ryan Gurtz, Ryan Housley and Danny Rosenmund.
Achieving the rank of Eagle is a distinction accomplished by only about 3 percent of Scouts in the United States.
The three boys went through Cub Scouts in the same den, as members of Pack 1971, then later crossed over together to Troop 1970, becoming Boy Scouts.
“We all met in third grade,” said Gurtz. “When we realized a few months ago that we could all be awarded our Eagle designation together, we thought that would be a great achievement.”
Gurtz and Rosenmund graduated from South Lakes High School last Thursday. Gurtz’s Eagle project involved organizing Scouts to collect donations of school supplies and backpacks that were assembled and shipped to children displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Backpacks were distributed through Project Backpack.
Rosenmund designed his Eagle project to help his alma mater, Hunters Woods Elementary School. He coordinated the design and installation of a patio in the shape of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The five geophysical regions are delineated by different color stones, and the patio will serve as an educational tool to help students learn about Virginia.
Housley, who graduated from Herndon High School on Monday, led a group of volunteers in building a series of log and stone steps up a section of the Appalachian Trail. This project will help to divert water off the trail and prevent future erosion.
The Eagle award ceremony was attended by more than 120 people, including Scouts, uniformed leaders, family and friends. The new Eagles were presented with plaques and certificates, along with congratulatory letters from President George W. Bush, Gov. Tim Kaine and other dignitaries.
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