McLean scout David Dzeidzic was honored recently for earning his Eagle badge, the highest rank in scouting.
“I’m really excited,” Dzeidzic said at the ceremony was held recently at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in McLean.
“The purpose of today’s ceremony is to recognize the achievements and significance of each scout,” Karen Miller, Committee Chair Person, said. “And to honor David for all his hard work here.”
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Boys and girls interested in scouting usually join around age 11 and advance through the ranks. Only about five percent earn the Eagle badge which must be completed before the scout's 18th birthday, said Scoutmaster Carey Child.
Scouts move up ranks after earning specific badges and performing leadership and service projects.
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“I like being a scout because I get to have new experiences and learn things you can’t ever learn in school,” Nicolas Bielamowicz, a Star Eagle, said.
His mom Anne Bielamowicz said, “You start out as Tender Foot, then move up to Second Class, then First Class, then Star, Life and finally Eagle Scout,”
“Eagles are usually involved since they were kids, but they must finish when they are 18,” Miller said. “But if they finish by 16 it’s a big deal – we’re just churning out eagle scouts.”
Toward the end of the ceremony the Dziedzic was presented with a plaque honoring his achievements and a lifetime membership in the Eagle Scouts, followed by a speech expressing gratitude to his troop and family.
“David is a young man who will follow his path, which will contribute to his troop and his community,” Child said.
At the end of the ceremony David presented his parents, David Sr. and Diane Dziedzic, with a pin recognizing their sacrifice as parents.
Dziedzic’s Troop 1916 consists of 25 scouts. This relatively small troop had three other scouts that earned their Eagle badge this year: Jacob Roble, Dominic Sauer and Albert Gordon.
Brian Doll, Jr. Achieves Eagle Scout Rank
An Eagle Court of Honor for Brian Edward Doll, Jr. was held recently at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in McLean. Brian is a member of Troop 827. Lieutenant General retired (U.S. Army) James C. King officiated at the ceremony, Scoutmaster Kelly Wise presented the Eagle Awards, and District Eagle Board member, Doug Flamm, gave the Eagle Oath and Pronouncement.
Brian’s Eagle Service Project was to create a raised hard walking surface and drainage for a 600 linear feet section of the Pimmit Run Trail near Great Falls Street and Kirby Road in McLean that had previously been unusable following rain storms. Over 35 fellow Scouts, friends and neighbors helped with this project. According to Ed Pickens of the Fairfax Trails and Streams, who spoke at the ceremony, Brian’s project was so successful that it was used as a prototype for four additional Eagle Scout projects on the same trail.
Over 100 people attended the ceremony from as far away as Ocean City, NJ, and Durham, NC, including over 20 fellow Eagle Scouts ranging in age from 15 to 82. Virginia State Delegate for the 34th District, Barbara Comstock, presented Brian with a Virginia state flag.
Brian is currently serving as President of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council for all Fairfax County Public Schools. In that capacity he led a project to determine how the County could make better use of technology to improve the delivery of education and presented the results to the Fairfax Country School Board on May 26. He also led the Stop Hunger Now project at Langley High School raising over $6,000 and recruited 200 volunteers to assemble thousands of meals for the needy in the developing world. He was recently selected as an Honorary winner in ExxonMobil’s Teagle Foundation Scholarship Program and will be attending Brigham Young University in the Fall.
A neighbor, Alan Greilsamer, shared Brian's achievement with us.
