Celebrating Aurora Boy Scout troop's centennial, Eagle award
An Aurora teen received the Boy Scouts' coveted Eagle Scout award during a June 18 centennial celebration by Blackhawk Boy Scout Troop 11 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora.
Douglas Hershey, 17, son of Olga and Randy Hershey, became Troop 11's 181st Eagle recipient since the troop's founding in 1916 at Galena Episcopal Methodist Church, predecessor of Wesley UMC.
Steve Norman, assistant scoutmaster, presented Hershey's award.
The Eagle Scout award is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America.
A 2016 West Aurora High School graduate, Hershey plans to attend Waubonsee Community College in the fall.
To earn his Eagle, he coordinated a November blood drive at the church. Hershey led nine scouts and several adult volunteers in the drive that yielded 42 pints for Heartland Blood Center in Aurora.
The centennial celebration featured "Scouting Then and Now" historical displays, a reception in the church's Gathering Place room and a Court of Honor where Hershey and other scouts were honored.
Troop 11 is chartered United Methodist Men at Wesley UMC. Troop meetings are held at 7 p.m. Mondays at the church, 14 N. May St. in Aurora. The troop is a member of Boy Scouts of America Foxfire District and Three Fires Council. Troop 11 Scoutmaster is Todd Carlson of Montgomery.
Troop 11 is the second oldest in Illinois. Since its founding, more than 1,500 boys have been members. The first Aurora-area Eagle Scout was Arthur Ekstrand of Troop 11.
Retired astronaut and Eagle recipient Capt. James A Lovell of Lake Forest sent a congratulatory letter. He said, "I have fond memories of my association with Scouting. It was through Scouting I learned self-reliance, leadership and other attributes that were most valuable to me in my later careers, especially when I was in the space program."
Capt. Lovell, a Navy pilot, flew on Gemini 7 and 12 and Apollo 8 and 13 space missions. He also served as president of the National Eagle Scout Association.
Hershey joined other Eagle award winners including Steven Spielberg, movie producer and director; Emery Moorehead, Chicago Bears 1985 Super Bowl championship team member; and Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart.
Centennial celebration co-sponsors were Wesley UMC, Famous Dave's, McDonald's, Starbucks, Harner's Bakery and Woodman's supermarket.