Eagle Scout

Dylan Eyler, the son of David and Shanda (Harty) Eyler of Cascade, was awarded his Eagle Scout Medal and Badge during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor held at St. John's United Church of Christ in Sabillasville, Md. Eagle Scout John Hasty, the master of ceremonies, welcomed a large audience. Troop 18 Scoutmaster Jim Pfeffer and Troop 18 Boy Scouts presented the American flag and the Troop 18 Boy Scout flag, before leading the “Pledge of Allegiance.” Pastor William Hammann of Hawley Memorial Presbyterian Church of Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., gave the invocation.

Troop 265 of Hagerstown honored Luis A. Viteri Jr. as he earned the highest award in Scouting - the rank of Eagle Scout - June 12 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scoutmaster Scott Farrow delivered the Eagle Charge and presented the Eagle Badge to Luis. He was also honored by Don Donat of the Hagerstown Elks Lodge. The Elks Lodge purchases the Eagle award kits for every Eagle Scout in Washington County. Toni Peroni of the Independent Order of Odd fellows also honored Luis for his achievement.

Eric Allen Witmer was recognized March 11 at a Court of Honor at Grace Bible Church, where he was honored with the rank of Eagle Scout. He is the son of Mark and Linda (Lister) Witmer of Greencastle, Pa., grandson of Leonard and Kathleen Witmer Sr. of Greencastle, Gary and Dorothy James of Martinsburg, W.Va., and the late Dr. Irvin C. Lister of Lafayette, La. To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must remain active in the troop, earn a total of 21 merit badges, hold a leadership position, plan, develop, raise the necessary funds and give leadership through a service project helpful to an organization within their community.  For his Eagle Scout project, Eric obtained donations and built four tournament horseshoe pits at Antrim Township Community Park in Greencastle, Pa. Eric has earned 34 merit badges and is the 2011-12 senior patrol leader for Troop 99 in Greencastle.

Benjamin Miles Seibert of Boy Scout Troop 17 in Williamsport achieved the Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank in Scouting. He is the son of Sally Highbarger Seibert and the late John B. Seibert. An Eagle Court of Honor was held at Church of the Holy Trinity in Halfway. Scoutmaster Jeff Boger presided over the ceremony, and presented Ben with the Eagle Scout badge. The Eagle Charge was given by Assistant Scoutmaster Jay Lauver, an Eagle Scout; “100 Scouts” was read by Dave Roberts; and Scouts from Troop 17 helped with the ceremony.

David Lucas Heim of Boy Scout Troop 20 in Boonsboro achieved the Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank in Scouting. He is the son of Janet and the Rev. Ed Heim of Hagerstown. An Eagle Court of Honor was held Nov. 19 at the chapel at Mar-Lu-Ridge Camp & Retreat Center in Jefferson, Md., where David did his Eagle project. Scoutmaster Andy Twigg presided over the ceremony. The opening prayer and closing benediction were given by David's father. David's uncle Dan Thompson, a Cub Scout leader in Naperville, Ill., read the Scout Law, while his son, David J. Thompson, a Tiger Cub, helped light the 12 candles, with assistance from Camille Heim, sister of the Eagle Scout.

Randy James Lohman was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on Oct. 27 at Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene. He is the son of Debbie and Rich Lohman of Keedysville.   He is a junior at Boonsboro High School, where he is a member of the cross country team and the track teams.  Lohman is a member of Boy Scout Troop 51 of Sharpsburg, which is chartered by St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Troop 51 meets at the church on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Lohman first began Scouting when he was in kindergarten as a Tiger Scout with Cub Scout Pack 66 in Hagerstown.

Robert Calum Lunsford of Fairplay achieved the Eagle Scout rank in 2011. Calum's Eagle Scout project was to refurbish a reproduction Civil War-era cannon, carriage and limber at Antietam National Battlefield. When his project was completed, the rangers gave him a certificate that would allow him to fire the cannon during one of their live-fire weekends. Since you have to be at least 18 years old to legally fire a cannon in Maryland, Calum has had a long wait. But on July 28, he finally got his moment on the battlefield and fired the cannon.

Thomas Hunt Hardinge III did not achieve the rank of Eagle Scout growing up in Hagerstown, but an extraordinary percentage of boys have done just that in his 25 years of Scoutmaster leadership with Boy Scout Troop 10. Hardinge, who was honored and roasted Nov. 27 at Elks Lodge 378 by members of Troop 10 and the Mason-Dixon Council of the Boys Scouts of America, has witnessed 41 Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank in his tenure. Scott Paddack, committee chairman for Troop 10 and senior district executive in charge of Scouting in Washington County, said Hardinge has an ability to keep Scouts interested in staying involved in Scouting.

Cory Scott Crampton was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a court of honor Jan. 19 at Faith Christian Fellowship in Williamsport.   He is the son of Kathy and Donald Crampton of Sharpsburg.  Cory is a member of Troop 287 in Greencastle, Pa., which is chartered by Otterbein Church.  Cory first began Scouting in the spring of 2008. He participated in Scouting events, such as hiking, camp-outs and canoeing trips.  One of the greatest events Cory and several members of his troop participated in was an excursion on the USS Iwo Jima in 2010 from Norfolk, Va., to New York City.

Troop 7 of Mercersburg honored Benjamin Harris Troupe with the highest award in Scouting, the Eagle Rank, on June 2, 2012, at the Charles Brightbill Environmental Center in Mercersburg. The ceremonies team of Guneukitschik Lodge 317 Order of the Arrow conducted the Four Winds Eagle Court of Honor. Ethan Mowen, fellow Eagle Scout of Troop 7, began the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Pastor Elaine Swinehart gave the invocation. Lain Mowen, Scoutmaster of Troop 7, affirmed that Benjamin had completed all of the requirements necessary to receive the rank of Eagle.

Randy James Lohman was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on Oct. 27 at Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene. He is the son of Debbie and Rich Lohman of Keedysville.   He is a junior at Boonsboro High School, where he is a member of the cross country team and the track teams.  Lohman is a member of Boy Scout Troop 51 of Sharpsburg, which is chartered by St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Troop 51 meets at the church on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Lohman first began Scouting when he was in kindergarten as a Tiger Scout with Cub Scout Pack 66 in Hagerstown.

Charles Earl "Buddy" Callahan, 64, of Martinsburg, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, at City Hospital. Born April 27, 1948, in Berkeley County, he was the son of the late Earl J. Callahan and Audrey (Fowler) Callahan. Mr. Callahan retired as engineer manager from Verizon and also worked at FEMA for several years. He was a member for more than 50 years at Otterbein United Methodist Church. He was a member of Martinsburg Lodge 120, Loyal Order of Moose, Optimist Club, the Izaak Walton League, head of safety ski patrol at Whitetail Ski Resort, and was an Eagle Scout.

Breese Morse Dickinson IV received his Eagle Scout award at Saint James Chapel on May 20. Breese is the 45th Eagle Scout under T. Hunt Hardinge's leadership in Troop 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church. For his Eagle Scout leadership service project, Breese created a wildlife habitat area and rehabilitated wetland area for Saint James School. As part of a leadership role requirement, Breese supervised local Cub Scouts in the making of 15 birdhouse boxes, which were installed by a few of his Saint James classmates along an existing fence line shaded by pine trees on campus.

Robert Calum Lunsford of Fairplay achieved the Eagle Scout rank in 2011. Calum's Eagle Scout project was to refurbish a reproduction Civil War-era cannon, carriage and limber at Antietam National Battlefield. When his project was completed, the rangers gave him a certificate that would allow him to fire the cannon during one of their live-fire weekends. Since you have to be at least 18 years old to legally fire a cannon in Maryland, Calum has had a long wait. But on July 28, he finally got his moment on the battlefield and fired the cannon.

R. Scott Smith, son of Barbara and Ronald Smith of Hagerstown, was the lead adviser for a group of Scouts attending Philmont Scout Ranch. He attended as a youth in 1978 with Boy Scout Troop 100 of Williamsport, and was thrilled to return as a leader and to share the trek with his son, Cameron Smith, the grandson of Barbara and Ronald. A crew of teenage Scouts and their leaders, from St. Augustine Boy Scout Troop 1111 in Elkridge, Md., went on the life-changing summer trip through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M. Philmont covers 214 square miles of vast wilderness with trails that climb from 6,500 feet to as high as 12,441 feet.

Dylan Eyler, the son of David and Shanda (Harty) Eyler of Cascade, was awarded his Eagle Scout Medal and Badge during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor held at St. John's United Church of Christ in Sabillasville, Md. Eagle Scout John Hasty, the master of ceremonies, welcomed a large audience. Troop 18 Scoutmaster Jim Pfeffer and Troop 18 Boy Scouts presented the American flag and the Troop 18 Boy Scout flag, before leading the “Pledge of Allegiance.” Pastor William Hammann of Hawley Memorial Presbyterian Church of Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., gave the invocation.

Thumbs up to Lisa Key, circulation manager for Washington County Free Library, who was named the 2012 Outstanding Paraprofessional by the Maryland Library Association. Key will mark 35 years working for the library system July 1. Thumbs up to the several thousand students in the Tri-State area who have graduated or soon will graduate from high school. We wish them well as they enter the next chapter of their life, be it higher education, the military or the work force.