China Boy Scout earns Eagle status

Text and photo by Ron Emery,
Assistant Scoutmaster

On April 9, Troop #479 honored an Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor held for South China resident Joe Morry at the China Baptist Church. Family, friends and Scouts attended the ceremony marking the advancement of this young man to the highest rank in Boy Scouts.

Joe joins a group of 32 Eagle Scouts who have completed community service projects with the help of fellow Scouts and other volunteers throughout Kennebec Valley. Each Eagle candidate must plan and supervise an Eagle service project to demonstrate his capacity and willingness to exert his leadership ability in activities that are constructive and worthwhile in his community.

Joe’s project benefited the surrounding communities by selecting a project in Thurston Park. Thurston Park is a 387-acre parcel of land located in the northeastern corner of the town of China. It is a multi-use park that is free and open to the public. He and fellow scouts and leaders, Erskine Academy classmates and friends and family built and installed two kiosks and also built three picnic tables. This Eagle Service project led by Joe Morry provided many man-hours of service to the region to improve the usability of Thurston Park by the public.
Senior Patrol Leader Nivek Boostedt welcomed the guests to the Court of Honor.

State Representative Timothy Theriault presented legislative sentiments. Other letters of sentiments were received from President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, as well as many others.

Joe is the son of Susan Morry, of China, and Carmine Morry, of Palermo. Joe is a member of the U.S. Army Guard, in Bangor, and is currently being trained to be a corrections officer.