The five new Eagle Scouts were they would be Scouts for life.
Boy Scouts Troop 449 last week held a Court of Honor for its five newest Eagles Scouts.
The new Eagle Scouts are Joe Przepiorka, Zachary Glass, Cade Brydges, Anthony Baum and Colin Przepiorka.
“I’m very proud of them,” said Scoutmaster George McClay.
The ceremony was held on Aug. 15 outside Philadelphia Academy Charter Grade School, 11000 Roosevelt Blvd., with a dinner reception afterward in the school.
Senior patrol leader Jeremy Horan explained the Scout Law and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Scout Liam Horan, 12.
Guests included City Councilman Brian O’Neill and state Sen. John Sabatina Jr.
O’Neill said he admires Boy Scouts troops because they promote helping others, teamwork and old-fashioned values. He presented the five Eagle Scouts with giant framed citations, signed by him and Council President Darrell Clarke.
“You’re an Eagle Scout for life. It’s a good thing. It’s like DNA inside you,” he said.
Sabatina told the Eagle Scouts, “You’re joining an elite community. If you make Eagle Scout, there are no limits to what you can accomplish.”
Scoutmaster George McClay presented plaques to PACS CEO Anna Marie Siegmann and grade school principal Rita Brody for hosting Troop 449 year round.
Moms placed medals on the newest Eagles Scouts’ shirt pockets, while dads presented patches. The Eagle Scouts honored their mentors with pins and addressed the crowd.
“It was the most important and greatest decision I ever made,” Glass said of joining Scouts.
Colin Przepiorka.joined another troop when he was younger, quitting because the boys spent most of their time coloring. Then he found a home with Troop 449.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said.
Colin Przepiorka, Joe’s cousin, will be entering his senior year at MaST Community Charter School. His Eagle Scout project was installing two benches, planting flowers and digging a trench for a light to shine on the American flag at the FOP Senior Center on Byberry Road.
The other four Eagle Scouts graduated high school in June.
Joe Przepiorka, a PACS graduate, will be enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. His Eagle Scout project was building a Ga-ga pit in the grade school play area. Ga-ga is a less-intense version of dodgeball.
Glass, also a graduate of PACS, will attend Kutztown University. He built book boxes outside PACS grade school.
Brydges, a graduate of Council Rock South, will be attending Temple. He built beehives at Churchville Nature Center.
Baum, a graduate of Holy Ghost Prep, will be attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (New York). He built a bat house for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation. ••
