On Saturday, June 7, Boy Scouts Troop 88 will conduct an Eagle Court of Honor at Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church, to "graduate" Michael Schweizer and Ian McLaughlin to the rank of Eagle Scout. The ceremony starts at 1:30 in the Church sanctuary runs about 90 minutes.
Michael was Troop Librarian and Troop Guide. He earned 21 merit badges, the most interesting of which was: Chemistry, Energy and Citizenship in the Community. School activities include playing on Warde High School Football Team, playing oboe in the Warde band in the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Orchestra. He also played oboe for two Warde High School musicals. Outside school activities include: playing guitar, Frisbee golf, skiing in the winter, fishing in the summer, and working at Shop Rite for almost three years.
Michael has volunteered with "All Hands Volunteer" after Super Storm Sandy, in which he helped "muck" houses that were devastated by the storm. Through Boy Scouts he also helped the Feed the Children organization by bagging ready–made meals; he filled bags with rice, and dried vegetables, for family of 4 serving sizes. All they had to do was add boiling water to the bags for a meal.
For Michael's Eagle Scout project he made picnic benches for the Audubon Society on Burr Street and he replaced the benches in the greenhouse.
Ian began as a Wolf Scout in Cub Scout Pack 2, West Barrington, RI, in the fall of 2004. He "graduated" to Boy Scout Troop 6, Barrington, RI, in 2008, then joined Boy Scout Troop 88, Fairfield in September 2012 after moving from RI to CT.
In scouting, Ian has served in three leadership positions: Troop Librarian, Assistant Patrol Leader, and Patrol Leader. He has earned 30 merit badges. Among his proudest accomplishments are the Rifle and Shotgun shooting badges, both of which require a significant degree of hand-eye coordination and patience. Among the most useful is the Emergency Preparedness badge; thanks to Ian and his brother Michael, who is also a Boy Scout, his family was well-stocked and well-prepared for six days without power during Hurricane Sandy.
Ian was elected by his Scouting peers to the Order of the Arrow, which is Scouting's National Honor Society. He became an Order of the Arrow Brotherhood Member in March 2012. Ian has been an honor or high-honor student all quarters while in high school. He was recently inducted into the Fairfield Warde High School Latin Honor Society based on his outstanding grades.
For his Eagle Project, Ian, along with several scouts and adult assistants, built an above-ground vegetable garden on the grounds of a group home run by CLASP Homes of Westport, a local non-profit that provides homes and opportunities for developmentally disabled adults. The home's residents are looking forward to reaping the economic and psychological benefits of growing something with your own hands.