Olden earns Eagle Scout rank

October 05, 2007

Boy Scout Troop 2, Hagerstown, honored Devin Eugene Olden with the highest award in Scouting - the Eagle Scout - on Sept. 15 at Otterbein United Methodist Church, Hagerstown.

Devin is the son of Donald and Wanda Olden.

Troop 2 conducted the opening ceremony and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Jack Rudy.

Advancement Chairman John Ewan opened the Court of Honor and read the "Voice of the Eagle." Scoutmaster Robert Mumma presented the Eagle badge to Devin and then presented his mother with a miniature Eagle pin and his father with a miniature Eagle tie tac.

Del. LeRoy E. Myers Jr., R-Washington/Allegany, presented a House Resolution and Ted Hull from the Hagerstown Elks Club presented the Americanism Award and U.S. flag. The Elks Club also purchases the Eagle kits for every Eagle Scout in Washington County.

Cpl. Shane Olden, brother of Devin, presented him with a U.S. flag, which flew at the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq, where Cpl. Olden was stationed. Cpl. Olden also presented a flag which flew in Iraq to the troop.

Devin received a Governor's Citation, Senate Resolution from state Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, and a letter of congratulations from Col. A. E. Hodges, commanding officer of the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Devin began Scouting as a Tiger Cub in Pack 27, earning all the ranks, including the highest award in Cub Scouts - the Arrow of Light. In 2000, he joined Troop 64, Maugansville, and in 2004 transferred to Troop 2. Devin has served in the following leadership position: scribe, librarian, quartermaster, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He has canoed on the Potomac River, hiked the Appalachian Trail, and hiked many miles on the C&O Canal towpath.

In 2003, Devin went to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and in 2005 attended the National Scout Jamboree in Fort A. P. Hill, Va. He has earned 36 merit badges.

Devin's Eagle project was to send care packages to a unit of Marines in Iraq. Donations came from all over the U.S. and more than $5,000 and hundreds of items were collected. A total of 166 packages were sent to Shane Olden's unit in Iraq and the extra money was donated to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation.

Devin graduated from Washington County Technical High School in June. He is employed with Landmark Equipment as a service technician and plans to further his education in natural resources management.

Otterbein United Methodist Church, Hagerstown, sponsors Troop 2.

|

|

|