Eagles continue to soar in Elizabeth.
Eagle Scouts that is.
Troop Scoutmaster Doug Sellers said that according to national statistics just two of every 100 scouts achieve the rank of Eagle, but Troop 47 in Elizabeth has produced seven Eagles in the last two years (and a total of 10 since 1994), including the two newest, David Karcher, 17, and Michael Owen, 16. They were honored at a ceremony Thursday night at the Elizabeth United Methodist Church.
Both teenagers knew early on that they wanted to earn their Eagle pins although it involves 300 to 350 hours of community service.
It runs in their families.
"I knew how special it was," said David, a junior at South Central Junior Senior High School.
David's father, Wayne, 46, earned his Eagle Rank in 1970 in Louisville.
Wayne, one of six boys in his family (often referred to as "a basketball team with one substitute"), said his father was a cubmaster and his mother was a den mother.
One of Wayne's brothers, Keith Karcher, 43, New Albany, is also an Eagle Scout, earning his in 1974. Keith is an Eagle Scout chairman in Kentucky. He attended the ceremony for his nephew.
During the ceremony, Wayne spoke affectionately to his son. "You're my hero," he said to David. "And I'll tell you why you're my hero. You always worked hard and never gave up ... I'm proud of you, son."
Wayne later said that David has some learning disabilities that made it more difficult for him to achieve his goals, but his son never let that stop him.
He gave his son an Eagle Scout ring and said, "An Eagle Scout is a person who lives those 12 laws" of an Eagle Scout. "This was a prime opportunity for me to say what I felt for him," Wayne said later.
David's mother, Deborah, pinned his new addition to his uniform.
His younger brother, Daniel, 7, a first grader at South Central Elementary and a Tiger Cub, attended the ceremony. "I hope he will go on and become an Eagle Scout like me," David said.
Michael's parents, Ron and Jillene Owen, had written an article for Sellers to read. They said Michael, a sophmore at South Central, "is devoted to his family and always concerned with helping others...."
"Michael could not wait to join the Boy Scouts. And he knew what he wanted, he wanted to be an Eagle Scout," they said. "Michael's scouting got off to a quick start. His requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class were completed by the end of his first summer camp, and his merit badges were beginning to accumulate. He was on his way to Eagle."
Jillene placed Michael's Eagle Scout pin on his uniform.
Ron, the former Scoutmaster at Elizabeth for seven years, never achieved the Eagle Rank, but his oldest son, Scott did. Scott is 18, and now an airman in the Air Force. He was honored in February. He participated in last week's ceremony while home on Christmas leave from Biloxi, Miss.
The boys' father, who has been in scouts since 1961, said the presentation was an emotional one for him. Research indicates that Michael was the youngest member of Troop 47 to ever earn the Eagle Rank. He was 15 when he appeared before the Scouts' Board of Review. "It makes me feel proud," Michael said. "Now that I've reached my goal, I want to help others."
Michael also thanked David, "for waiting on me" to complete the necessary work although David's was done so they could have the joint ceremony.
During the presentation, Sellers read a letter of congratulations to David and Michael from President Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton. They also received letters from Indiana Ninth District Congressman Baron Hill, US Senator Richard Lugar, and State Senator Richard Young, as well as from dignitaries in the Scouting field.
David and Michael were each given an American flag from Hill that was flown over the US Capitol on December 7th.
Sellers and Scott Owen, plus two other Eagle Scouts, Brian Kendall and Tim Smith, and other scouts participated in the ceremony, reciting oaths, leading pledges, and lighting candels.
Michael's project, making three trails at the South Harrison Park, took three to four months to complete. The work was done on weekends. "There were 50 acres of unmarked woods in the park," Michael said. At South Central, he is involved in Rebel Renaissance, cross country, basketball, track and represents the sophmore class. Michael said he enjoys scouting because it involves "being with friends, going out and doing things."
While he doesn't graduate until 2003, Michael is considering following in his brother's footsteps again by joining the military, maybe not the Air Force, but "definitely something in the military."
For his project, David made five picnic tables for the Elizabeth United Methodist Church. "I saw they needed more seats for special events," he said. The church provided him with the plans, and other troop memebers helped David put the tables together. The project took about two months.
David says he enjoys scouting because it teaches "the basic fundamentals of life," as well as provides an opportunity to make new friends. David's school activities include Rebel Renaissance, cross country, baseball and track. After graduation he plans to attend college and study criminology or physical therapy.