Clifton Boy Scouts Achieve Eagle Scout Rank

Courtesy Terry Winkowski

Boy Scout Troop 1104 in Clifton, Virginia recognized the advancement of eight scouts to Eagle Scout Rank during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Saturday, September 10. 

To become an Eagle Scout, a scout must complete 21 merit badges, 12 of which are Eagle required and nine of which reflect the scout’s personal skills/interests.  The scout must hold positions of leadership within the troop, demonstrate scout spirit, and live by the scout oath and scout law. These eight scouts all attended Goshen Scout Reservation in Goshen, Virginia as well as the high adventure Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.  They each designed, managed, and led an Eagle Service Project to benefit a local organization or the Town of Clifton. 

Rory Michael Walter led a team of scouts to build three picnic tables and create a mulched picnic area behind the Clifton Presbyterian Church. As part of his project, he also moved the storage shed to a new foundation, extended downspout drains, removed brush and dead trees, and re-graded uneven ground.

Daniel Nathan Reese led his team to build one hundred feet of split rail fence for the Manassas Battlefield National Park, which replicated the fence that existed at the time of the 1st Battle of Manassas in 1861.  

Nicholas Scott Reese led a group of scouts and members of the community to build two permanent benches at the George Mason University Fitness Center. 

Christopher Joel McCarty restored the Clifton Betterment Association (CBA) steam engine located at the barn in the Town of Clifton.  This project involved several phases of research, cleaning, sandblasting, painting, and a lot of teamwork from fellow scouts and leaders.

Jesse Tyler McCarty supervised the building of two 3-sided benches to facilitate two challenge course stations at the EDGE, George Mason University, Manassas campus.  This project involved planning, design, clearing, site work, woodworking, staining, and landscaping.

Dillon Andrew Nold led a team to construct five picnic tables for use at the Kinchloe Pavilion near the VISTA fields and at Clifton Presbyterian Church in Clifton, VA.  He also cut and painted new signs for VISTA fields 1,2,3, and 10 that will help to direct players, coaches, and others who visit the fields. 

Alex Michael Winkowski consulted with a local naturalist and biology teacher to identify flora and fauna in Clifton’s Randolph Buckley Park.  He created a brochure highlighting indigenous trees, unique environmental features, and the town’s history.  Alex then led a team of scouts and adults to secure numbered posts along the half-mile nature walk, construct a brochure holder and complete trail remediation. 

Christopher Steven DiAntonio led and managed a team of twenty-one Scouts and adults to construct six movable benches for the George Mason University Aquatic and Fitness Center.  The benches are placed along the Piedmont Trail, a 1.2 mile challenge course serving fifth graders to adults.  The benches will be used as a designated place to sit for instruction as well as a place for rest.