Civic Groups

Troop 203 Honors Eagle Scout

On January 15, 2012, an Eagle Court of Honor was held for Joseph Patalik of Troop 203 at First Church, the Troop’s sponsoring organization.

Participating in the program were Mark O’Donnell, Troop 203’s Eagle Coach, Rev. Char Corbett, Associate Pastor of FCW, Al Relyea, Assistant Commissioner of the CT Rivers Council, Former Troop 203 Scoutmaster, Ed Kirk, Charles Copeland, Religious Advisor, Wilawi Chapter, Order of the Arrow, Educator Tom Swanson, and Scouts, Nick Chapman, Noah Swanson, and Ben Sargalski. The Eagle Charge was given by Dr. William Harris. Scoutmaster Steve Porcaro administered the Eagle Pledge and presented the Eagle Badge. Hugh Eberle, Assistant Scoutmaster, read “The Legend of the Rose,” a tribute to Joseph’s grandmother, Helen Silchenko, who raised him. Chris Moon, Director of BSA Camp Mattatuck and CT Junior Olympic Gymnastics was the guest speaker. Referring to Joseph’s parallel careers in gymnastics and Scouting, Mr. Moon said that the characteristics that make a good athlete, agility, strength, balance, concentration, and determination, also make a good Scout and carry over into life.

During his time in Troop 203, Joseph was a member of the Order of the Arrow Honor Society of Scouting, earned 42 merit badges, and Fifty Miler Awards in Backpacking, Bicycling and Canoeing. He served as assistant senior patrol leader, recruiter, and compiled the Troop cookbook, The Troop 203 Chowhound. He also was awarded the God and Country, Good Turn for America, 100 Nights of Camping, and World Conservation Awards. Joseph participated in the Boy Scout Centennial Jamboree, in a 100 mile backpacking trek at Philmont, NM, and in the National Arrow Corps 5 Service project that installed trails in the national forests of West Virginia. For three summers, he was on the staff of BSA Camp Mattatuck.

Joseph’s Eagle project was the installation of the Nancy G. Clark Korean Friendship Garden on the church grounds. The garden honors the friendship with First Church’s sister church in South Korea as well as the dedicated service of Mrs. Nancy Clark who was the church gardener for many years. For Joseph, the research, planning, and planting were a labor of love.

In his Eagle Response, Joseph acknowledged the support and guidance of many people who helped him along his journey to the Eagle rank. Special presentations were made to Ed Kirk, former Scoutmaster, and Nancy Clark, the “spirit of the Korean Friendship Garden.” Mentor pins were presented to Officer James Bernard who “taught lessons in integrity by the way he lived” and Bill Kittredge, “a servant leader whose input, guidance, and skills breathed life into my Eagle project.”

A reception for family and friends was held in Nelson Hall of First Church.

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