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Fair He worked doggone hard for Eagle rank
Five Valley Stream Boy Scouts made major contributions to the Valley Stream Dog Park when it opened two years ago. Four of them had earned their Eagle ranks.
On June 8, the fifth and final scout joined exclusive company when Richard Wiener became an Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony at Blessed Sacrament Church. Only about 5 percent of boys who enter the scouts earn this rank, the highest honor attainable.
Wiener, 18, a senior at Valley Stream Central High School, has been involved in the scouts for about 10 years, starting off as a Cub Scout with Pack 368 before moving on to Troop 369. His older brother, Kristopher, became an Eagle Scout six years ago, and Wiener wanted to follow in his footsteps. “It is the final rank of scouting and I worked hard to get there,” he said.
For his required community service project, Wiener supervised the construction of the three benches for the dog park. He had to secure donations and get volunteers to help out. “Everyone from my troop contributed,” he said.
Wiener said he learned a lot from his project, but perhaps the biggest lesson he took away from the experience was the importance of helping one’s community. He added that he enjoys going by the dog park and seeing people make use of his contribution.
Fellow Troop 369 scouts constructed a storage shed, shelter, signs and obstacles at the dog park. Wiener now joins his peers in holding the Eagle rank, a designation that will stay with him for life.
He also earned 30 merit badges, exceeding the 21 required to become an Eagle Scout. Wiener said his favorite badge to get was for physical fitness.
Some of his favorite activities as a scout included woodworking and camping. He enjoyed the annual week-long summer camps at the Resica Falls Scouting Reservation in Pennsylvania.
Wiener, who graduates high school next week, will be attending Suffolk County Community College in the fall. His major is undecided.
About 60 people attended his Court of Honor ceremony, and Wiener said he was glad to see such a great turnout. “It means a lot,” he said. “I’m grateful that they cared about my scouting.”
