La Grange Boy Scout Troop 39 Recognizes Newest Eagle Scouts

Submitted by Dan Burns, assistant scoutmaster, Troop 39
Photo, left to right: David Burns, Daniel Dugan and Isaac Husemann

La Grange, IL - Boy Scout Troop 39 in La Grange held a court of honor April 3 to recognize three scouts who earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the program, awarded to only 4 percent of all scouts.

Established in 1917, Troop 39 is one of the oldest chartered scouting organizations in Illinois, and since re-establishing the troop six years ago with a brand new group of scouts, the troop has already recognized five Eagle Scouts, with three more expected this year.

Recognized at the recent court of honor were David Burns, Isaac Husemann and Daniel Dugan, who are all La Grange area residents and students at Lyons Township High School.

To complete the final requirement of the Eagle rank, each boy was required to plan, execute and manage a service project for the benefit of the community.

David Burns held a book drive in support of the Open Books organization in Chicago, which provides literary education and support services to thousands of children and adults in the Chicagoland area, and his project collected 8,041 books.

Isaac Husemann repurposed a storage area at the La Grange Bible Church, designing and overseeing construction of custom shelving units to effectively accommodate all of the sporting equipment for athletic and recreation programs held in the attached gymnasium.

Daniel Dugan held a food collection drive for Anne’s House, Illinois’ first long term trauma-based residential program for young women and girls who have been impacted by sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, and his volunteer crew installed shelving and bicycle storage units in an area women’s residence.

Each project involved extensive planning, working closely with the organization sponsor, soliciting monetary contributions and donations of materials, advertising the event activities, organizing the work days and leading the many volunteers who came to help with the project.

The new Eagle Scouts remain active in the troop and are looking forward to their high adventure excursions this summer.

Isaac and David are returning to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, for a 100-mile backpacking adventure, and Dan is heading to SeaBase in the Florida Keys for a one-week sea exploring voyage.