Pandemic Didn’t Ground This Committed Fairfield Eagle Scout

FAIRFIELD, CT — To be recognized with the Boy Scouts of America's Eagle Scout Court of Honor is the highest distinction that can be bestowed upon a Scout after years of hard work and commitment.

Owing to the tribulations of the coronavirus pandemic, however, some Scouts — like Gary Stewart, 18, of Fairfield — had to see that honor postponed, though certainly not overlooked or underestimated.

“A lot of us didn’t have our ceremony because of COVID,” Stewart said. “And a lot of us were going to move on without having a ceremony.”

“But some of us got together and we talked about it, so we thought it would be a great idea to have all of us together,” he said.

And so last month, six Scouts from Troop 82 in Fairfield were honored for their achievements in a ceremony at the First Church Congregational of Fairfield, joined by families, friends and several town officials.

Along with simply being involved in scouting together for many years, this particular group of young men shared a long history as friends dating back to their initial meetings as Cub Scouts.

“For me, personally, I can’t tell you how many friends and people I’ve met through the Scouts,” said Stewart, a graduate of Fairfield Ludlowe High School who is now studying digital media design at the University of Connecticut.

The other five Eagle Scouts who were recognized included Tyler Coughlan, Brian Kinasewitz, Jason Kinasewitz, Owen Weber and Ian Wilson.

Becoming an Eagle Scout involves a range of requirements, which stem from having attained the rank of a “Life Scout.”

Once a Scout holds that honor, they must then demonstrate a level of commitment and activism within the troop, serving in leadership roles.

Scouts must earn at least 21 merit badges, including 10 required badges that touch on first aid, citizenship, cooking, communication, and emergency preparedness or lifesaving.

The culmination of the work then centers on a service project of their choosing, which must also meet certain requirements.

“I donated 300 bags to Bigelow Senior Center for food deliveries and ran a drive-thru food drive for Operation Hope,” said Stewart, who arrived at the idea following discussions with Julie DeMarco, Fairfield’s director of human services.

Other projects by this group of Scouts included a deck repair at the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Burr Street location in Fairfield, installation of a fence and bird boxes at an open space sanctuary in Southport, the collection of books for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Connecticut, repair work on a mini golf course at the YMCA in Monroe, and construction of life jacket stands throughout the region.

Stewart said that, along with his experience making friends through Scouting, he also developed a plethora of abilities that he will be able to use throughout his life.

“I’ve developed skills through Scouts,” he said. “And not just stuff like tying knots.”