Tyler Haisman Earns Eagle Scout Rank

Tyler Haisman, son of Paul and Tina Haisman, has attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest possible achievement for a member of the Boy Scouts of America. The award was presented by members of BSA Troop 166 at a Court of Honor, held on September 8, at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights.

For his Eagle Project, Haisman chose to build a Veterans Memorial Plaza at his high school, Saint Viator High School. His project consisted of installing brick pavers and a memorial plaque around three existing flagpoles that are located outside of the school near two athletic fields. The three flags that fly there are the U.S. flag, the State of Illinois flag and the St. Viator flag.

It is important to note that the three existing flagpoles are the result of another Troop 166 Eagle Scout Project completed by Matt Beiersdorf in August of 2016. Beiersdorf saw the need for the flags to be properly represented at school sporting events.

Haisman, who served as a volunteer worker on Beiersdorf's project, came up with the idea to expand up on the area and make it a designated Veteran's Memorial Plaza. He coordinated with Landscape Construction Corporation (LCC) to complete the project. LCC generously donated the materials and some of the labor for the project. Haisman then ordered a bronze plaque that says, "Dedicated to the men and women who served in the Armed Forces."

Haisman said the reason he feels it is important to honor Veterans is because they give so much to our country. His family has a history of military service, and so the sacrifice is real. "I really wanted to give the Saint Viator Community a central location to honor and celebrate those who have served our country," he said.

As Haisman was installing the bronze plaque at the site, a man, who is a father of a Saint Viator student and 23-year military veteran, thanked him for installing the plaza honoring veterans. Haisman hopes many more veterans will feel respected and appreciated as they visit the site.

Upon being awarded the Eagle Scout rank, Haisman has successfully earned 33 merit badges, inducted into the Order of the Arrow, and participated in countless weekend camping trips, including a high-adventure trip to North Manatou Island in Michigan.

Haisman is 16 years old and in 11th grade. He is an active member of St. James Parish in Arlington Heights. He is considering a career in engineering or aviation.

Less than four percent of Scouts attain the rank of Eagle, and those who do are expected to set an example for other Scouts and to become the leaders in life that they have demonstrated themselves to be in Scouting. They are highly represented in the military, service academies, higher education and academia, and in business, politics, and the clergy. Famous Eagle Scouts include astronauts Neil Armstrong and James Lovell, Olympians Willie Banks and Steve Holcomb, and former U.S. President Gerald Ford.