Only two percent of all boys that join Boy Scouts ever achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Philip Gerard Kreckel has joined the ranks of this privileged minority. On August 21, 2004, Troop 300 held an Eagle Scout Court of Honor at Harkins Hall on the campus of St. Matthew Catholic Church. Senior Patrol Leader Caleb Dillon led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Theresa Harper, Committee Chairman, called the Court of Honor to order. Scoutmaster Peter Kreckel welcomed the group.
“This is a Scoutmaster’s finest hour, when one of his Scouts achieves the highest rank in Scouting, the Eagle Scout,” Kreckel remarked. “I have said this the last two Eagle Courts when Tom Bradford and Ted Feller got their Eagles. You can only imagine how pleased I am to have this honor bestowed on my son.”
Assistant Scoutmasters Mark Raffetto Sr. and Tim Kirkpatrick introduced the honored guests and the Troop 300 committee. Guest speaker was Daryl Mancenelli, the Scout Executive of Penns Woods Council. He remarked how successful the Boy Scouting program in Tyrone has been the last number of years.
He told the crowd, “With the renovations at Camp Anderson, partnered with Easter Seals and the Rotary Clubs, this camp will be upgraded to a first class facility. By sharing our resources with the Easter Seals, both groups will derive great benefits from Camp Anderson.”
He spoke of the positive nature that the Scout program has on the youth and how each rank in Scouting builds character at each level.
Father Joseph Orr, pastor of St. Matthew Church was then called upon to present the Eagle Scout Award to Philip. He had Philip recite the Scout Oath and the Eagle pledge. He then called upon Denise Kreckel to pin the prized rank on her son’s uniform. He then had Philip pin the Mother’s pin on his mom and the Father’s pin on his dad.
Citations were read and presented to Philip by Mayor Patricia Stoner on behalf of the Tyrone Borough and by Morris Levine on behalf of the Agudath Achim Synagogue. Citations were also sent from President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Apostolic Nuncio Gabriel Montalvo on behalf of Pope John Paul II, Bishop Joseph Adamec, Rep. Jerry Stern, as well as other Representatives and Senators.
There has been a change in the Eagle Scout packet that the recipient receives. There is now a “Mentor Pin” that the Eagle Scout pins on the one person that has made the biggest impact on his Scout career. Philip called up Father Orr and presented him with the Mentor Pin.
Philip said of his mentor, “He has been our troop’s biggest supporter. We store our Scout gear in the rectory basement. He has given many sermons, especially on Scout Sunday that show his support for our Scouting program.”
Philip then began his acceptance speech. He thanked his Scout troop, committee and Assistant Scoutmasters. He spoke of the great times at the camp-o-rees with his friends in Troop 103, Troop 104 and Troop 20.
He said of his family, “I wouldn’t be standing here right now if I didn’t have the support of my family. My sister Gretchen brought sloppy joes when we were working on my project at Oak Grove Cemetery. Of course who could forget my sister Libby’s no-bakes that she makes for every campout. My family has supported me every step of the way from the moment I came home from first grade wanting to join Tiger Cubs.”
Mr. Mike Knorr, Chief Logan District Executive, gave his closing remarks on how pleased he was to see so many people gathered in support of Scouting. He remarked that Philip was “wise beyond his years” with his insight to the Scouting program, with respect to “taking responsibility and using it wisely.”
Nearly 100 people attended. Friends and family from St. Marys, Allentown, Watsontown, Wilkes-Barre, Pittsburgh and Smock, as well as throughout Blair County came to show their appreciation for “a job well done” to one of the many excellent youth in the Tyrone Scouting program.
