Troop 71 Celebration

On Friday, Feb. 5, the cheerfully decorated Church of Our Saviour Lutheran auditorium was packed with over 100 Plandome Troop 71 Scouts, family members and guests for their Annual Dinner and Court of Honor.
After an opening ceremony, Scoutmaster Chris Simone remarked about how much the troop has to be thankful for, including its motivated Scouts, supportive parents and community and dedicated adult leaders. Proud of the troop’s accomplishments in the past year, several hundred awards and merit badges were successfully completed during summer camp stays.
New challenges were faced, like ice climbing and the first trip to BSA’s Sea Base St. Thomas. High Adventure Trek last summer was great. The troop looks forward to the adventures ahead of canoing in Maine and two weeks in Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico this summer. Scoutmaster Simone also announced that the troop’s rich history is now on display in the Manhasset Public Library, a project undertaken over a year ago and made possible by a grant from the Troop 71 Foundation, a charity formed in 1998 to support Troop 71 and Scouting.
After a delicious, catered buffet organized by Dinner Chairs Robin Lippet and Mary Kerry O’Brien, the Senior Patrol swore in five new Scouts who crossed over from Pack 101, awarded ranks and merit badges and recognized two Scouts for their election into the Order of the Arrow Honor Society.
A special part of the evening was BSA Area 2 President/former Troop 71 SM Scott Christensen and Troop Patriarch Thornton Smith presenting Life Scout Peter Guariglia with the rarely awarded National Medal of Merit—pinned on by his mother—for his bravery in rescuing several people from an overturned van on the Long Island Expressway two winters ago.
A highlight of the event was honoring Diane Boyadjian and Liz Tomaselli, moms of recent Eagle Scouts who have aged out of the troop, for doing “so much, for so many, for so long” throughout their time with Troop 71.
Scoutmaster Simone offered fond and funny memories of “dynamic duo” Liz and Diane, thanked them for their dedicated and tireless service to the troop, and remarked about how, although the troop never had any difficulty getting them to help, it faces a tremendous problem now of where to find five people to replace them.
The honorees tearfully accepted special gifts from the troop, including a well-earned spa treatment, traced their involvement, recounted fond memories and experiences and encouraged other parents to get involved in the troop, stressing the fulfillment to be found in service to Scouting. Learn more at www.plandometroop71.com.