New Eagle Scout Honored By Long Valley Mayor And Police

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A Washington Township Boy Scout recently received scouting's highest honor, and members of the local police department, along with Mayor Matt Murello, honored him for his service at a recent ceremony.

Washington Township officials presented a formal proclamation to Kurt DeChario from Boy Scout Troop 236, welcoming him into the rank of Eagle Scout.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank or achievement in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America. Since its inception in 1911, approximately 4 percent of scouts have earned this rank after a rigorous review process, according to officials.

Scouts must plan, develop, and lead others in a service project that benefits any religious institution, school, or part of the local community in order to receive the rank.

DeChario's Eagle Scout project involved installing a sensory path and restoring parts of the playground at the Long Valley Christian Nursery School, which he is an alumnus of.

The project was completed in 2022 and has since received much praise from the Long Valley Christian Nursery School, officials said.

Local police officers Frank Giaquinto and Mike Smith were in attendance at this ceremony and spoke with DeChario about his time in the Scouts and his Eagle Scout project. On behalf of the Washington Township Police Department, Smith then presented DeChario with a congratulatory plaque.

DeChario will be graduating from West Morris Central High School next month and plans to study business at Penn State in the fall, Murello said.

"We are proud to have such a resourceful young leader in our community," the police department said.

Approximately 119 Boy Scouts within Troop 236 have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, according to Long Valley Troop 236.