Brothers with the right stuff

It takes a certain type of person to achieve Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. One must possess certain qualifications and qualities, such as trustworthiness, honor, bravery and many more.

Brothers Anthony, 18, and James Pisani, 16, of Troop 230 are among that group, earning the Eagle rank on Sunday at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church. Climbing through the ranks as they got merit badges and awards, both gave it all they had and were rewarded in the end — and both encourage young scouts to do likewise.

Anthony started his scouting journey in 2015, but even before he was thinking about scouts, he wanted to join the Navy. He and his father remember the moment well. “In first grade, going into a soccer game I told my dad, ‘Hey, I want to join the military,’ and he’s like, ‘OK, sure,’” Anthony recalled. “Twelve years later, I’m in the Navy.”

He has followed his dream. Home in Oceanside from the Great Lakes U.S. Navy Base for the ceremony, he will go back for more Electrical Technician training Jan. 2.

“Everything I learned in Boy Scouts, most of it translates to my Navy life,” he said. But there are differences: “You go in as a civilian, you come out as a sailor; it’s a different transition.”

James, an Oceanside High School 11th grader, started scouts once he reached first grade just like his big brother. He said he “never thought I’d be there, but I’m thankful for all of it, no matter if it’s good or bad.”

Their father, Anthony, was just as amazed at the brothers’ accomplishment. “I’m surprised,” he said. “One is big; two is amazing.”

“I have been so honored to have my older brother with me while being a scout, and even more being Eagle Scouts,” said James.

James said the best part of scouts for him was “being introduced to leadership in the invented role of operations officer. After that I went on to historian, and patrol leader during Covid-19 meetings.”

He credits Scoutmaster Steven Xuereb with imparting the valuable skill of leadership.

“I would not have gotten any of these jobs or been up here today without my first job as operations officer, which was given to me by Mr. X. Mr. X is the best scoutmaster I could have asked for. He’s so attentive to every scout, no matter what it is, and definition of a leader,” James said. At the ceremony, he awarded Xuereb the mentorship pin.

The Eagle ceremony was an emotional affair as the satisfaction and feeling of completion washed over the brothers, their family who assisted along the way, and their leaders who encouraged them.

Giving the Eagle Charge was one such mentor, Christopher Ferrara, an Eagle Scout himself as well as an Eagle Scout father and one of the troop’s first scoutmasters.

“It has been my honor, my pleasure, and my privilege to have been asked back by the Pisani family,” Ferrara said before giving the charge. “We’ve become friends over the years. To see them grow up into the fine young men they are, they’ve already achieved great things and I know there’s going to be a lot more coming down the pipe for you two. We only expect the best.”

Another speaker with ties to the family was Michael D’Ambrosio, a friend of the scouts’ father since childhood days in Ozone Park.  D’Ambrosio, vice president of the Oceanside School District Board of Education, represented the Nassau County Executive’s office on Executive Bruce Blakeman’s behalf at the event.

“Being in this chapel tonight, being a Roman Catholic, is just about as great as you can get during Advent to receive these two,” D’Ambrosio said, “Being here tonight is such a reverent thing, and it’s such reverence to achieve Eagle Scout.”

D’Ambrosio remarked how both brothers have “that edge, that stuff” and commended them for their journey along the way. “You stood up, you worked on it, you earned it, you deserve it – the respect that you’ve got,” he remarked.

From his perspective working in government, D’Ambrosio said the Eagle Scout achievement is considered a very serious matter. “We take this very seriously. That’s why they send us to these events,” he said. “But when I knew that it was the Pisani family, it now becomes real family, and it’s because of the point where you say to yourself that you’ve known these kids since they were small.”

Seth Blau, president of the Oceanside Board of Education, also congratulated the brothers: “No one is born an Eagle Scout. It takes hard work, determination and persistence. And very few people actually do it and can accomplish it and make it to that threshold. So, congratulations.”

Peter Bucha, chairman of the National Eagle Scout Association for the Theodore Roosevelt Council gave a small history lesson about the first Eagle Scout – Arthur E. Eldred – who grew up in Oceanside, and whose brother was instrumental in starting Oceanside’s Troop 1.

“We have the distinct honor of being home to the very first Eagle Scout right here in Nassau County, which is a great honor that we have as scouts throughout the United States,” Bucha said. “This is an opportunity now to look at those scouts right there and help them reach what you guys are achieving today.”

“This afternoon we honored our newest Eagle Scouts. But what about the future?” Xuereb remarked. “Tomorrow morning, they’ll wake up a little tired, happy and Eagle Scouts. Ten years from now, they’ll wake up each morning as an Eagle Scout. Every day for the rest of their lives, they’ll wake up as Eagle Scouts. That’s the good news. The bad news each morning – the rest of their lives they wake up Eagle Scouts. You see it’s both an honor and obligation."

Congressman-elect Anthony D’Esposito stopped in briefly to give his regards and a citation to Anthony and James.

“It is always good to celebrate Eagle Scouts,” he said. “They’ve worked very hard – their family, their scout leaders and their fellow scouts – so it’s great to be here. It’s great to celebrate them and especially this time of year, a little bit even more special.”

Dignitaries who could not make it to the ceremony but sent their regards include former President George W. Bush, Senator Chuck Schumer, Governor Kathy Hochul, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Pope Francis.