Special scout soars with eagles Leominster Champion
Achieving the famed rank of Eagle Scout within the scouting community and the working world is always a challenge for a boy looking to attain the highest honor scouting bestows. Obstacles prerequisite to be overcome, planning and executing a project to perfection is the goal, and at times kinks in the plans pigeon-hole the end result.One very special scout has overcome those named obstacles, but also beat the odds to take possession of his Eagle badge, as he is a member of Troop 823, which is a boy scout troop for mentally and physically challenged scouts, and his celebrate is evident in his bright eyes and massive smile.
Tommy Padula, a 45-year old scout, completed his Eagle devise and now is getting ready for his Honor Court ceremony to receive the highly coveted badge to sign his achievement. Tommy has Downs Syndrome, yet has been involved in scouting for over 30 years, and has a sash full of merit badges he has earned along his junket to becoming an elite Eagle Scout.
Tommy’s project was to refurbish the collection kettles and tripods for the Salvation Army, and according to Deb- bie Andujar, Salvation Army kettle coordinator, “he did so much more to the kettles than we ever expected.”
