Hard work pays off for Valley Stream Eagle Scouts

For three Boy Scouts, June 19 marked the culmination of years of hard work and determination. A trio of scouts from Valley Stream Troop 116 earned their Eagle rank at a Court of Honor ceremony at St. Joseph’s School in Hewlett.

Rob Bogle, Joseph Marchica and Brian Sweeney have spent many years in scouting and, for each, attaining the Eagle rank has been a long-term goal. In the history of the troop, only 54 other scouts have gotten as far.

Bogle, who just graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School, began his scouting career with Pack 367. He earned his Arrow of Light award in fifth grade and moved on to the Boy Scouts. On day one, he began thinking about becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest honor in scouting. “When I do anything,” he said, “I try to do it all out.”

For his Eagle project, Bogle installed a plaque at Rockaway Avenue and Sunrise Highway honoring Rum Junction, a major train junction in Valley Stream in the late-1800s. It was a popular vacation spot for many people who wanted to get out of New York City for few days. Bogle did much of his research at the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration.

Marchica recently graduated from Herricks High School. He joined the Cub Scouts in 1998 with Pack 367 and earned his Arrow of Light award to move on to Boy Scouts. Since then, he has stayed involved with the Cub Scouts, serving as a den chief and running the pack’s annual pinewood derby.

He replaced an old, rusty flagpole at St. Joseph’s for his Eagle project, along with installing a light to shine on the flag. To raise money, he sold United States key chains outside of King Kullen.

Sweeney graduated Central High School in 2009 and attends Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. He flew up for one day in the spring for his Eagle Scout review. Sweeney joined the Cub Scouts in second grade and, since moving onto Boy Scouts with Troop 116, he has served as a patrol leader and junior assistant scoutmaster.

In just his second year of Boy Scouts, Sweeney said he was thrown into a leadership position as patrol leader of a dozen new scouts. It was a valuable experience, he said, because he learned quickly how to be an effective leader.