Boys earn Eagle Scout badges in bittersweet ceremony

Four boys earn Eagle Scout Badges in bittersweet ceremony

By Kathy Feist

 In a bittersweet ceremony, four Boy Scouts from Troop 007 were honored for achieving the highest rank attainable in the organization, one that only 4% of all scouts achieve. While there were cheers, there were also tears. It was the final Eagle Scout Badge ceremony in south KC that would be associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The organization broke with the Boy Scouts of America early this year.

Hyrum Ward, Travis Webster, Wyatt Wimmer, and Garrett Webster earned the Eagle Scout badge during the Eagle Scout Court of Honor held at the auditorium in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 8417 Holmes Rd. 

Each scout was called out individually, and the nature of the project they had undertaken and completed was announced by their Scoutmaster. The projects were part of their requirement for attaining Eagle Scout, and the boys were required to spend at least 100 hours on each project.

Wyatt Wimmer removed a fence in preparation for a new one to be installed professionally at Highland Cemetery in Prairie Village. He also updated the inventory of graves, taking pictures of all the headstones and making a map naming who is buried in each plot. The graves date back to the mid-1800’s.

Hyrum Ward built and stained four new benches for the Kansas City Community gardens. They were built similar to existing benches that were rotting, and are now replaced.

Garrett Webster built picnic tables for Mark Twain Elementary School in Kansas City, KS, to make an outdoor classroom. Parents also use the tables as they wait to pick up their children.

Travis Webster  built, stocked and placed two tiny free libraries to benefit the communities of Mark Twain Elementary School and McKinley Elementary School (both in KCK). 

Since its inception in 1912, more than 2.2 million young men and boys have attained the rank of Eagle Scout after earning at least 21 merit badges, demonstrating “Scout Spirit” based on the oath of law, service and leadership.