A Plandome Troop 71 Boy Scout was honored for his heroism in the rescue of a Westhampton Beach swimmer last summer. Will Simone of Port Washington was surprised with a special honor at the Plandome Troop 71 Annual Dinner and Court of Honor on Feb. 9. Simone was awarded the Boy Scouts of America National Medal of Merit.
Simone, 14 years old at the time of the incident in August 2016, saw a man struggling against a heavy undercurrent and grabbed his tethered boogie board and carefully swam on it along the surface out to the struggling swimmer. He got close enough to help the exhausted man get his chest onto the board and then, with tether in hand, slowly pulled him back to the safety of the shore.
The award was presented to Simone during a surprise ceremony by 95-year-old Troop member Thornton Smith, who has been in the troop since it began.
“It wasn’t something I was doing for an award,” Simone commented later to news reporters. “It was just something I was doing to save someone’s life.”
The rarely awarded Medal of Merit, presented to Simone by Shelter Rock District Senior Executive Brian Gorman and Commissioner Mike Flanagan of the Theodore Roosevelt Council, is bestowed on those who have performed an act of meritorious service above and beyond what is normally expected of a youth or adult member of the Boy Scouts of America, demonstrating exceptional character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others.
Simone was very humbled by the accolades. “Not many people get it, and to be among the great people that have done great things, it’s an honor,” he said.
His father, Chris Simone, said, “As Scoutmaster I have the privilege of always being proud of my Scouts. But when it’s my own son too, the pride is so much more personal and immensely deeper—it’s difficult to describe.”
Simone will soon be working on his Eagle Scout Service Project to earn Scouting’s highest rank and hopes someday to be an engineer.
The evening continued with compliments of the dinner co-chairs Mary Kerry O’Brien and Nancy Paganucci and the many volunteers who helped make it so special. The hall was festively decorated, the food was delicious and Scout spirit soared. Special thanks goes to Stella Biniaris who compiled an awesome raffle and all those who contributed to help the troop raise funds for the Boy Scout program.
