Bentley Straley earns rank of Eagle Scout

April 29, 2009

Troop 136, Halfway, honored Bentley Wade Straley with the highest award in Scouting - the Eagle Scout - Feb. 28 at the Church of the Holy Trinity.

The members of Order of the Arrow ceremony team conducted the opening ceremony and members of Troop 136 served as the color guard for the event.

Scoutmaster Don Gehr presented the Eagle badge, and Bentley in turn presented his mother with a miniature Eagle pin and his father with an Eagle lapel pin. Bentley is the son of Bentley and Donna Straley. Bentley also presented a mentor pin to his former Scoutmaster Earl Selby.

Sen. Don Munson presented the state resolution and a House resolution from Del. Andrew Serafini. The Hagerstown Elks Lodge 378 presented the Americanism Award, along with a U.S. flag. The Elks Lodge provides the Eagle kit for every Eagle Scout in Washington County.

U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett presented a congressional recognition along with a U.S. flag, which flew over the Capitol Building. Stanley Johnson of the Halfway Lions Club gave congratulations on behalf of the club.

Bentley started in scouting as a Tiger Cub with Pack 17. He earned all of the ranks, including the Arrow of Light, the highest Cub Scout award. He crossed the bridge into Boy Scouts with Troop 136. Bentley has held the following leadership positions: Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader, and has earned 26 merit badges. He is also a member of the Order of the Arrow with Guneukitschik Lodge 317 and became a Vigil member in 2007.

In the Order of the Arrow, he has held many positions and has attended summer camp at Sinoquipe Scout Reservation. He is now a member of the staff at summer camp. He has attended Philmont High Adventure Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Bentley's Eagle project was to build an arbor to shelter a memorial statue of an angel as an addition to the Therapeutic Garden at Western Maryland Hospital Center.

Flowers, shrubs and mulch were added to landscape the area. The project was completed with the assistance of family, friends and members of Troop 136.

Bentley has been involved with football and wrestling at Williamsport High School and will be graduating from Washington County Technical High School this spring.

He is enrolled in the Auto Body Technical course and is working as an intern for Hub City Auto Body.

Pastor Betty Jones from the Trinity Bible Church gave the invocation and the benediction.

Troop 136 is sponsored by the Halfway Lions Club.

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