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Three attain Eagle Scout status
Three attain Eagle Scout statusBy Bill Walsh
Times-Democrat Staff Writer
Alex Chakalos, Kyle Donovan and Karl Frantz Jr. have achieved the highest honor in Scouting, and the trio celebrated a triple Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Sunday at Warrenton United Methodist Church.
It is the first time in the history of Troop 175 that three Eagle Scouts were pinned at the same time. Even rarer, two of the three started together as Cub Scouts 11 years ago.
Donovan and Chakalos, rising seniors at Fauquier High School, always knew that they wanted to be Eagle Scouts and set this goal as first graders at Ritchie Elementary School.
Less than two million Boy Scouts, about five percent of all those who have ever worn the uniform, have attained Eagle Scout since the organization was founded in 1911.
It is, according to the organization, the single most common thread among U.S. presidents. All American astronauts who ever walked on the moon are Eagle Scouts, as are such diverse public figures as film maker Michael Moore and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
An Eagle Scout earns a minimum of 21 merit badges, then plans, develops, and oversees a community project. The project must benefit an organization other than Scouting, and cannot be performed for an individual or a business, nor as a solely fundraising project.
For his project, Chakalos directed a group of Scouts in the construction of two sections of new fencing at Manassas National Battlefield Park. Donovan directed the construction of seven new benches at Adventure Bound just over the county line in Culpeper, and Frantz, who graduated from Fauquier High in June, oversaw the building of benches at Ritchie Elementary School.
In separate interviews this week, all three young men spoke enthusiastically about the leadership skills and maturation that Scouting imparts.
"I think what Scouting does is it gives you a more mature outlook a little earlier than otherwise," Frantz said.
"I've learned a lot of leadership skills that have helped me a lot," Donovan added. "And you meet a lot of new friends through Scouting."
Chakalos and Donovan started their Scouting careers with Pack 957, eventually crossing over to Warrenton Troop 175.
Both have older brothers who achieved Eagle Scout status in that Troop.
Zach Chakalos is now in his second year at Lord Fairfax Community College, where he is a member of the National Honor Society and eying a move next year to Virginia Tech.
Another Chakalos, 15-year-old Ryan, is also an accomplished Scout and, according to his parents, a likely third Eagle Scout in the family.
The Donovan family already has three Eagles. Kyle's older brother Daniel reached Scouting's pinnacle, and the boys' father Mark is also an Eagle, the eighth one ever pinned by Troop 175.
Troop 175 is Warrenton's oldest, established more than 40 years ago. It is the largest troop in Warrenton, with more than 75 Scouts.
Alex, Kyle and KJ......I am so glad my son has gotten to know you all over the years. Parents couldn't ask for better sons! Congratualtions on your acheivement!
Tall Boys Mom!
Posted by hoopdy
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