Scouting News

Seaford family boasts five Eagle Scouts

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New Eagle Scout Nathaniel Lettieri, left, was congratulated by his brothers, who also are Eagle Scouts, Philip, Vincent, Quentin and Joseph at his Court of Honor ceremony on June 4.
New Eagle Scout Nathaniel Lettieri, left, was congratulated by his brothers, who also are Eagle Scouts, Philip, Vincent, Quentin and Joseph at his Court of Honor ceremony on June 4.
Jack Healy/Herald

Five brothers, five Eagle Scouts. That’s the case for the Lettieri family, of Seaford.

At a Court of Honor ceremony earlier this month for 17-year-old Nathaniel Lettieri, he became the final member of his family to achieve scouting’s highest honor. The celebration was held at St. William the Abbot Church on June 4, where he was surrounded by more than 50 family members, friends, fellow scouts and local officials.

He followed in the footsteps of his four older brothers, Philip, 24, who became an Eagle Scout in 2007, Vincent, 21 (2011), Quentin, 20 (2012), and Joseph, 18 (2014). His older sister, Corinne, 22, is Gold Award recipient which is the highest honor in the Girl Scouts, and his younger sister, Olivia, 15, has earned the Silver Award and is working toward Gold.

“It’s nice,” Edward Lettieri said about all five of his sons becoming Eagle Scouts. “The funny part is, I was never in scouting as a kid. One started and the others followed. It’s a great achievement.”

Nathaniel is a member is Troop 690, based at St. William. He graduated from St. William the Abbot School and is finishing his junior year at Chaminade High School. He has been in the Boy Scouts for six years, and before that was a Cub Scout with Pack 690.

In order to earn the Eagle rank, a Scout must complete a community service project. He worked with Wantagh-based MOMMA’S House, an organization that provides housing and educational opportunities for young, single mothers.

Nathaniel did work at the Jericho residence. Last November, he repainted an outdoor deck and refurbished the furniture. He was assisted by about a dozen volunteers over two days. They were crucial in helping him get the job done, he explained.

The project, Nathaniel said, helped him learn leadership skills and made him realize how rewarding it can be to do work for a good cause. He spent several months planning his project, and had to raise money for the materials. By collecting and redeeming bottles and cans, and getting donations from family members and Home Depot, he accomplished his fundraising goal.

“It really came out very well,” he said of the project. “They said it was beautiful. They absolutely loved it.”

On his journey to Eagle Scout, he earned 36 merit badges, exceeding the 21 that are required. He said his favorites were cooking and wilderness survival.

A scouting memory that stands out for Nathaniel is the 10-day trip to the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia in 2013. He participated in numerous activities such as scuba diving and going to the shooting range, while hearing speeches from the King of Sweden and accomplished Eagle Scouts.

“It was just another big adventure,” he said. “Ten days with the same guys, I made a lot of long-lasting friends.”

Nathaniel said that his brothers were his greatest role models in becoming an Eagle Scout. As the youngest brother, he said, he had the advantage of having four people to turn to for guidance.

“They definitely had me carve my own path,” he said, “and do the activities that I preferred.”

At Chaminade, Nathaniel wrestles, works on the yearbook, takes part in a service project group, and is a member of the Catholic League, and Glee, Social Studies and Economics clubs.

As for the Scouts, Nathaniel said he plans to stay active in his troop for another year and plans to attended summer camp upstate next month. He also wants to guide aspiring Eagle Scouts and push them to do their best, as he believes it is the greatest achievement a boy can have.

“It means I take on a greater role in the community and as a leader,” he said. “I’m willing to accept all the challenges that come along my way.”