A late hunger to become an Eagle Scout

Although Matthew Furlong first joined the Scouts when he was 5, it wasn’t until later in his scouting career that he decided to go for his Eagle rank. In the course of a year, he finished all of his requirements, and was honored for his accomplishment at a Court of Honor ceremony on Jan. 17.

Furlong, 18, of Wantagh, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 189, based at Temple B’Nai Torah. He previously was a member of Cub Scout Pack 96.

“I saw other people in my troop doing it and I realized I could do it myself,” he said of achieving scouting’s highest honor. “What appealed to me is you got to do a project to help out someone else.”

Furlong supported his church by building two large shelves for the St. Frances de Chantal food pantry in Wantagh. The project was completed on May 9, 2015. All the pieces for the shelves were made at his house, then assembled in the food pantry. He also donated food to stock the shelves, and gift cards for Stop & Shop.

When thinking of a community service project, he decided to reach out to the parish that has meant so much to his family. Furlong walked around and when he got to the food pantry, he saw a need for better storage.

He raised more than $580 through fundraisers at two restaurants, in which a portion of the sales for the day were given to him, and by collecting and redeeming bottles and cans. About 25 volunteers, mostly fellow scouts and family members, helped him with the construction of the shelves.

Furlong said the experience taught him valuable leadership and organizational skills. “This is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life so far,” he said.

He earned 25 merit badges, exceeding the 21 required to become and Eagle Scout, and said his favorite one was the computer badge. Furlong also said he enjoyed the outdoor skills he learned by being a scout. For many years, he attended summer camp at the Onteora Scouting Reservation upstate. “I just enjoyed being able to spend a week out in the woods,” he said.

He said hiking was his favorite scouting activity, particularly those around historic sites, and particularly enjoyed visits to Gettysburg and Salem, Mass.

Furlong is a 2015 graduate of MacArthur High School. He was involved in the drama club and had significant roles in “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Almost Mame.” He was also a member of the Business Honor Society.

He is presently attending the Island Drafting and Technical Institute in Amityville where he is studying computer services and electronics.

Furlong is the first person in his family to become an Eagle Scout. He said he couldn’t have done it without the support of his parents, Janet and James, and Scout leaders Andrea Sternlieb, Mike Vitucci, Jackie Mauro, Teri Fields and Debbie Hillman.

With about 100 people attending his ceremony at Levittown Hall, Furlong admitted it was unusual being the center of attention, but was grateful to have so many share in his accomplishment.

Wishing he started working toward Eagle Scout at a younger age, Furlong’s advice to others looking to earn the rank is, “Don’t wait on it. I’m a living example of that.”

Now that he holds the prestigious title of Eagle Scout, which will stay with him his entire life, he encourages others to do the same. Only 5 percent of boys nationally who enter the Scout attain the rank. “I hope that the percentage of people becoming Eagle Scouts rises,” he said. “It’s a good life experience.”