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| Gary Exelby photo Adam Flannigan, between flag poles facing front, officiates at the dedication of his Eagle Scout service project, two flag poles, set of flag stones and landscaping, outside the Dexter United Methodist Church last Saturday. |
Adam Flannigan has been crock-potted.
That's how state Rep. Billy Pat Wright described described Troop 200's newest Eagle Scout. Wright had borrowed from a comment by Air Force Lt. Col. (ret) Cliff Manlove who administered the Eagle Scotu Charge to Flannigan during Saturday's Court of Honor at the Dexter United Methodist Church. "With leaders, you can't microwave them -- you have to crockpot them," Manlove had said.
"I consider the Eagle Scout Award to be a mandate for leadership."
Manlove's comments represented an acknowledgement that it takes many years to produce a leader -- a lifetime, in fact. And that's how long Flannigan has spent in Scouting, working towards the top Scout rank, having started out as a Tiger Cub Scout in kindergarten.
In the course of that lifelong quest for Scouting's highest rank, Flannigan amassed a total of 28 merit badges, well over the minimum required 21.
According to information from the Scouting web site, www.scouting.org, there are 120 badges available, but 12 are mandated. These are First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life, plus either Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving; and either Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming.
In addition, according to Troop 200 scoutmaster Robert Martin, Flannigan spent six months in a leadership role after achieving the second highest Scouting rank, Life Scout.
"Adam also planned and completed a service project to benefit the community," Martin said, "and he has lived by the Scout Code." All are requirements -- in addition to approval by a board of review -- for Eagle Scout rank.
Flannigan's project, as previously reported, was to install two flag poles at the Dexter United Methodist Church. In addition, the project called for installation of flagstones and landscaping.
The Eagle Scout Court of Honor commenced with dedication by Flannigan and his fellow scouts of the flag poles.
According to information from the Scouting web site, more than 1.7 million Boy Scouts have earned the top Scouting rank since 1912. The skills learned in advancing to Eagle Scout rank are supoposed to stand the individual in good stead in higher education, business or industry, and community service.