In a ceremony marked by tradition, reflection and praise for service, Troop 230 formally elevated three young men from Oceanside to the rank of Eagle Scout at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church last Saturday — an achievement reached by only a small percentage of Scouts nationwide.
Teens Nicholas Bozek, Maxwell Greenberg and Connor Jaffe were honored during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor attended by family members, fellow Scouts, troop leaders, clergy and elected officials. Eagle Scout is the highest rank that could be attained, with only about 4 percent of Scouts earning the distinction since Scouting’s inception in 1912.
Troop 230 Scoutmaster Harold Gerry opened the ceremony, welcoming guests and underscoring the meaning of each rank. Eagle Scouts, he said, are charged with using their training and leadership not only within Scouting but also in their communities and future endeavors.
Michael D’Ambrosio, representing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, addressed the audience and praised the honorees for their commitment to service. D’Ambrosio, who also serves as president of the Oceanside Board of Education, said the scouts exemplify the values of leadership and selflessness.
“These are boys that have turned into men,” D’Ambrosio said. “They go out there and start helping people. They’re not concerned about themselves, but about the community and its outreach.”
State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick echoed those remarks, noting the broader impact of Scouting’s principles.
“If everyone lived by the Scout motto, our world would be a better place,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said, adding that the three new Eagle Scouts now serve as role models for younger members of the troop. “They have shown what you can accomplish when you stick to your path and have your families behind you to support you.”
Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Laura Ryder and Nassau County Legislator Patrick Mullaney were also in attendance to show their support.
A central portion of the ceremony focused on the “Trail to Eagle,” a traditional presentation in which the Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmaster reviewed each rank achieved on the path to Eagle Scout — Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle — lighting candles and explaining the growth, responsibility and leadership required at each stage.
The program then shifted to recognize the families of the honorees. Parents joined their sons at the front of the room, where each Scout presented pins to both their mother and father. Gerry explained that the mother’s pin symbolizes comfort and encouragement, while the father’s represents guidance and advice.
“Your parents prodded you, taught you, gave you important lessons and gave you a hard time, when necessary,” Gerry said, addressing the Scouts. “This is as much of an honor to them as it is to their sons.”
Each Eagle Scout then spoke briefly about his Scouting experience and Eagle project — the community service requirement that stands as the capstone of the Eagle rank.
Bozek began Scouting as a Tiger Cub with Pack 230 at age 6 in 2013 and bridged to Troop 230 in 2018. He remained active until his 18th birthday, serving in leadership roles, including troop librarian, webmaster, patrol leader and assistant senior patrol leader.
For his Eagle project, Bozek partnered with Florence A. Smith Elementary School in Oceanside to transform an underused section of the School No. 2 playground. After surveying students, he installed drainage mats and built a gaga ball pit — a dodgeball-like game played in an octagonal pit — to create a safe recreational space, cleaned up the surrounding area and added more than 60 books to the outdoor book library.
Bozek’s project involved 37 volunteers and 185 hours of planning, fundraising and construction. A 2025 graduate of Oceanside High School, Bozek is now attending Norwich University in Vermont, majoring in civil engineering with a minor in construction management.
Greenberg began Scouting with Pack 204 in 2014 and joined Troop 230 five years later. He served as patrol leader and Order of the Arrow — the honor society of Scouting America — representative. His Eagle project supported the Catholic Charities of Long Island’s senior center at St. Anthony’s Church, where he led younger Scouts in constructing three bookshelves for the center’s shared library.
The project brought improved organization and storage to the space and included fundraising with the help of local businesses. In total, 13 volunteers contributed 57.5 hours to complete the project. Greenberg, a senior at Oceanside High School and a future Air Force ROTC cadet through the High School Scholarship Program, was recently accepted to Harvard University.
Jaffe began Scouting with Pack 230 at age 9 in 2016 and bridged to Troop 230 two years later. He served as troop guide and senior patrol leader. For his project, Jaffe worked with Father Bret Stockdale, SJ, to digitize the history of the Stations of the Cross and statues around St. Anthony’s Church.
Jaffe installed QR codes that link to a website explaining the significance of each station and statue, and constructed signposts for outdoor displays. His project took 63 hours to complete and involved 17 volunteers. Jaffe is an electrical engineering major at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
Gerry closed the ceremony with a Scoutmaster’s Minute.
“Each day for the rest of their lives, these men will wake up as Eagle Scouts,” Gerry said. “It is both an honor and an obligation.”
Quoting Dr. Suess, he added: “You’re off to great places, today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”
