Three More Eagle Scouts Take Wing

 

By Kim Siebert MacPhail

On Saturday, July 27, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor recognized three members of Bedford’s Boy Scout Troop 114—James Martin Doud, William Joseph Kahaiyan and Eric Livesay Tate—for becoming part of a two million-member community of young men who have achieved Eagle Scout since the rank was established in 1911.

The Court of Honor’s program states that “[t]he rank of Eagle Scout is the highest award presented to a youth member of the Boy Scouts of America.  The award is a performance-based achievement whose standards have been well-maintained over the years. The Eagle Scout has lived and served according to the Scout Oath and Law. By meeting the requirements for the rank, the Eagle Scout has demonstrated consistent, honorable pursuit of Scouting’s goals—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness. Through successful planning and execution of his Eagle Scout Project, he has also provided significant service to his community, while demonstrating leadership, ingenuity and perseverance.”

The proceedings at First Parish Church on the Common began with an opening welcome from Senior Patrol Leader Nate Fisette who introduced Scoutmaster John Bridgeman—an Eagle Scout himself— as the Master of Ceremonies.  In his remarks, Bridgeman said that Doud, Kahaiyan and Tate “have labored long [but] as Eagle Scouts they will take on even greater responsibilities.”

Bridgeman’s words citing leadership, community, and life-long expectations were echoed by many of the other speakers throughout the ceremony, including First Parish’s Reverend John Gibbons who summarized Doud, Kahaiyan and Tate’s newly acquired status this way:

“[The rank of Eagle Scout] is not an entitlement that will allow you to be better than anyone else; it is almost the opposite. Today’s ceremony guarantees that you will never be quite good enough. Forever and always, you will say not that you were an Eagle Scout, but that you are an Eagle Scout and that forever and always you remain accountable to this highest standard. Today, a crown is placed over your heads that you will always try to grow tall enough to wear.”

Other congratulatory speeches were offered by Rotary President and Eagle Scout Peter Colgan; Former Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout Cliff Washer; Eagle Scout Ben Thomas; Committee Chair and Eagle Scout Wendell Knicely; F.W Thompson Masonic Lodge liaison and Eagle Scout Hal Sargent; former Troop 114 member and Eagle Scout Nicholas Tate; and Selectman Margot Fleischman.

Colgan, Sargent, Fleischman, and District Scout Commissioner Jeff Anderson also brought with them a variety of proclamations and letters of citation from individuals and groups, including the Bedford Selectmen, Superintendent of Bedford Schools Jon Sills, F.W.Thompson Masonic Lodge, Bedford Rotary and Rotary International, State Representative Ken Gordon, State Senator Mike Barrett, Governor Deval Patrick, US Senator Elizabeth Warren, Interim US Senator Mo Cowan,  former US Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, Vice President Joe Biden, and President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama.

When it was their turn to speak, Doud, Kahaiyan and Tate shared stories of their journeys through years of scouting and reflected how their experiences had brought them to this point of highest achievement. They also described their culminating Eagle Projects:

James Doud

James Doud began scouting in kindergarten as a Tiger Scout and continued in 5^th grade when he reached the age to bridge into Boy Scouts. He credits scouting for igniting his love of camping, the outdoors and nature.  For his Eagle project, Doud drew together and managed a team that designed and built a multi-sensory water table for the PlayZone at Bedford High’s Integrated Preschool. He credits Ilsa Gottleib—formerly of the Bedford School system and now on the board of the Bedford Education Foundation—for guiding his efforts. Allan Tate, Wendell Knicely, Cliff Washer and John Bridgeman were acknowledged as well for their assistance and support.

 

Will Kahaiyan

Will Kahaiyan, from a young age, loved everything about camping which gave him an appreciation for how lucky he is to have luxuries like a hot shower. Kahaiyan joined scouts with his sights set firmly on achieving Eagle, as his father had before him. Like fellow Eagle inductee James Doud, he credits Ilsa Gottleib with helping him identify the focus for his Eagle project: designing and leading a crew through the construction of a color wheel for the BHS PlayZone at the Integrated Preschool. Kahaiyan humorously noted that, although scouting was purported to be “boy-lead”, Troop 114 “would have been a train wreck” without the involvement of the many adult mentors that support the group and its activities.

 

Eric Tate

Eric Tate said that after watching his two older siblings enjoy scouting, he couldn’t wait to join as a kindergartener. He cited scouting for challenging him in positive ways, helping him to set goals and to grow to understand his capabilities. Tate’s Eagle project involved managing a crew of scouts to design and build a set of music storage shelves for the Bedford High School Music Department. He thanked Music Department Chair Nicole O’Toole, professional builder and family friend Art Smith, his Eagle project advisor Steven List and mentor Scoutmaster John Bridgeman for their care and support.

The three new Eagles thanked their parents for the love and support they received through many scouting challenges. During the ceremony, Doud, Kahaiyan and Tate were joined by a group of by twelve other Eagle Scouts who were present, some newly inducted and others who had attained the rank decades before.

Note: According to Bridgeman, another Eagle Court of Honor ceremony will take place in December for four additional Eagle Scout candidates.