Kyle Ross

Additional Notes

I would like to take the time to explain the journey that Tyler and Kyle took in becoming the troop’s first COVID-19 Eagle Scouts.

See one of the reasons Eagle Scouts are held in higher esteem than their peers is that they are people who set goals and, no matter what happens, they reach their goals. Well, let me say “no matter what” is an understatement for these two young men!

So, stop a moment and think back to the winter and spring of 2020 and how COVID-19 became a part of our lives almost overnight. As COVID was becoming an issue around the world these two young men carried out their projects, which were completed just days before the U.S. came to a screeching halt with the pandemic lockdown.

Now they faced their first test -- both Tyler and Kyle were turning 18 in the spring, and 18 is the deadline to have their paperwork turned in. So, unlike the normal reviewing of their paperwork -- a board of review where several people look over it at a scout meeting -- their paperwork was passed between us in ziploc bags.

After they got everything signed off, I contacted Council for instructions on how to drop them off. Lucky for us, as I was about to put it in the council mailbox (since they too were on lockdown) someone exited the building and was willing to take it in and put it on the advancement person’s desk for me.

Now the second test - we had to wait to hear back on approval from Council which came a couple of weeks later (a lot longer and stressful due to COVID).

Now the third test - how and when to have the Board of Review. Spring went into summer and by August things were looking up with COVID, so I contacted the Eagle Board and asked about scheduling. After a couple of weeks they got back to us to say they found their books but not Tyler's and Kyle's Eagle applications. This seemed impossible, as each of their booklets were delivered in ziploc bags. We found out later that, unknown to anyone, someone from Council took them apart and was going to do a virtual Eagle Board of Review, but they got overwhelmed, gave up, and did not return the applications.

Now the fourth test- redo their applications. Normally we copy them but due to COVID-19 we did not make copies this time so, we had to redo everything from scratch. New applications and new approvals from council. Finally, we were ready for an Eagle Board of Review.

Now came the fifth test – doing the Eagle Board of Reviews, because now COVID had resurged after the summer and the board of review site refused use of the building; the Eagle board needed to find a new location! It was the Pastor of St Albans Church (an Eagle Scout himself) who allowed the board to use their church. Their Eagle Board of Review was set for November 22, 2020, but we got a freak snowstorm that dumped 19 inches of snow and it had to be postponed. Due to the fact we were nearing the end of the year, the Board of Review was moved to the following Tuesday, December 3rd.

Now the final test and the one that they had waited for their entire scouting career - the Eagle Board of Review – and both passed with flying colors!

So, living the true Eagle tradition of “no matter what it takes”, I think these two young men exemplify the ideals of an Eagle Scout. I mean no matter what came their way they kept going and did not say “Hey Dave let it go; ths is getting ridiculous I don’t care about it”. They kept going even when many of the obstacles were beyond their control!

One last test -- due to rain on May 7th and the postponement of a local car show till May 14th we had to move Court of Honor from noon to 6 p.m., which was just one more thing to overcome!

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE: Due to a family member contracting COVID, Tyler and his family could not attend on May 14. and had to have his Eagle Court of Honor rescheduled to October 1, 2022.

-- Dave Craighead, Scoutmaster, Troop 334