By Andrew Hackmack
Denzel Hardy and Tony Samuel earned the Arrow of Light award and now will begin their journey as Boy Scouts.
In order to achieve the Arrow of Light award, the boys had to earn seven pins, learn the Boy Scout oath and law, attend a Boy Scout troop meeting and go on a camping venture. It is only Cub Scout award that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform.
Samuel, 10, is a fifth-grade at Holy Name of Mary School and will be moving on to Boy Scout Troop 116. The troop's scoutmaster, George Amitrano, was on hand to welcome Samuel into the troop.
Hardy, 10, who is in the fifth grade at Clear Stream Avenue School, will be joining Troop 109 for Boy Scouts. Scoutmaster Lenny Abiuso congratulated his newest scout on the accomplishment.
Both boys say they are looking forward to working toward their Eagle Scout rank. Samuel and Hardy also said they can't wait to go on more camping trips.
Also on hand to congratulate the boys on their accomplishments were Mayor Ed Cahill, Town Councilman James Darcy and Assemblyman Bob Barra. Darcy talked about the great values that scouting instills in boys. He told the Hardy and Samuel that the day marked a new beginning in their scouting careers, and said he is confident he will be congratulating them on becoming Eagle Scouts someday.
The Arrow of Light ceremony included the lighting of candles and a bridge crossing led by a ceremonial team from Troop 517.
Linda Gleason, the pack's committee chair, talked about the boys' accomplishment. "They've been preparing themselves for a long time to go into Boy Scouts," she said. "I'm so proud of these boys."
