Scouting America Troop 208 recently held a Court of Honor ceremony to recognize four new Eagle Scouts – Tommy Keaton, Kieran Murtha, Ayden Kobryn and Matt Morgan.
Troop 208, based at Gloria Dei Church, in Huntingdon Valley, is for kids 11-17. The troop’s roots date to the early 1920s. Over the years, many of the Troop 208 Scouts have “crossed over” from Cub Scout Pack 802, which is for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and is based at St. Albert the Great Parish.
In all, Troop 208 has produced 102 Eagle Scouts.
To become an Eagle Scout, the four young men honored on Jan. 3 earned merit badges, displayed leadership skills and completed a service project.
Kieran, a Pine Valley resident and Penn State freshman, converted an underused classroom at Maternity BVM into a library for his service project.
Tommy, a senior at Lower Moreland and fourth-generation Eagle Scout, improved the playground and garden at Pennypack Preschool, which he attended as a youngster.
Ayden, a Bustleton resident and senior at Holy Ghost Prep, created the Thuja Memorial Kiosk, a 14-foot-high structure at Cranaleith Spiritual Center featuring 63 plaques that were purchased as part of a Cranaleith fundraiser.
Matt, a Bustleton resident and senior at Mercy Career and Technical School whose two brothers are also Eagle Scouts, removed and replaced 100 feet of fencing at Pennypack Environmental Center.
The ceremony featured the Pledge of Allegiance, national anthem, prayer, a meatball and ziti dinner, cake and cookies.
City Councilman Brian O’Neill, who cited the educational and fun parts of Scouting, presented the new Eagle Scouts with framed citations.
“We are all better off because we have four new Eagle Scouts,” said O’Neill, adding that he has attended more than 200 Courts of Honor while in office.
Troop 208 recognized other Eagle Scouts in attendance, and a slideshow captured images of the newest honorees over the years as the song Forever Young played.
The Eagle Scouts thanked their parents, Brett and Megan Keaton, Don and Trish Murtha, Christopher and Garyn Kobryn and John and Kathleen Morgan.
The teen honorees also thanked Scoutmaster Don Murtha, committee chairman Mike Garvey and other troop leaders, including newly installed Scoutmaster Franklin Chong. ••
For more information on Troop 208, visit bsatroop208.org or attend a meeting. The troop meets all year on Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Room at Gloria Dei Church, 570 Welsh Road, Huntingdon Valley.
