Palatine Eagle Scout project wins national attention
Robert Prochaska was the 78th teen in Boy Scout Troop 188, based out of Christ Lutheran Church in Palatine, to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
But his court of honor ceremony Saturday stood out from the others.
More than 50 people attended the early afternoon program, held in the Palatine council chambers. A formal color guard opened the ceremony. Scout officials told the assembly of Prochaska's "trail to the rank of Eagle."
What made this induction different was the presence of representatives from the regional Medical Reserve Corps and from the Surgeon General's office in Washington.
They came to commend Prochaska on the service project he completed to earn his Eagle rank. He created disaster kits for the Palatine Medical Reserve Corps, part of the village's Emergency Response Team.
Each kit contains items needed to survive for up to 72 hours during a natural or man-made disaster until first responders arrive. Items range from a space blanket and medical first-aid kit, to chlorination tablets and dehydrated food.
Prochaska worked with his troop to make up some of the kits, as well as a tabletop display and PowerPoint presentation, for Medical Reserve volunteers to take to communitywide events.
"Your project caught the eye of a national public health official in Washington," said Melissa Watt-Henderson, regional coordinator of the Medical Reserve Corps, which takes in five Midwest states.
"It's individuals such as you that help to make this community stronger," she said. "This project benefits everyone, and shows that young adults can do great things."
Naval Lt. Comdr. Duane Wagner was on hand to represent Admiral James Galloway, the regional health administrator and assistant surgeon general.
"Robert's project goes hand-in-hand with our mission," Wagner said, "which is public health and disaster relief preparation."
He presented Prochaska with one of Galloway's personal medallions, while Watt-Henderson gave him a medallion and a certificate.
"We give these to our leaders," she said, "and you are definitely one of our leaders."
Palatine's Medical Reserve Corps was established under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security with the help of a three-year, $150,000 federal grant.
Its 60 volunteers are trained to help first responders in the event of a communitywide emergency. They report to the U.S. Office of Public Health through the regional office located in Chicago.