I’m actually from Green Lane and was enrolled in troop 338 until I was 13 or so. I ended up transferring to troop 108 after having an incredible experience traveling to Philmont with Flag and the gang in the summer of ’93. From that point forward, my experience in Scouting started in a very positive direction. I guess you could say that I kind of stumbled upon troop 108 and its one of the best breaks that I’ve had in my lifetime. When I think back to the reasons I choose to stay with 108, one of the more compelling factors was Moose. Moose was icon in scouting, the kind of man who can dwell in the memories of those who he lead for years to come. Among other things, scouting seeks to create well rounded boys who can set long term goals at an early age and to fulfill those goals. But it takes an undeniable leader to compel a boy to stay committed to the oath and to earn their Eagle rank. Some boys get their moral compasses from home, others from their place of worship. We members of troop 108 were lucky to be led by a strong contingent of men who could reinforce our morals while providing service to our communities and teaching us to be men. When I think of those men, no single individual left more of a lasting impression than Moose. He taught us to be proud to be scouts and of the reciprocal nature of the scouting experience. But most significantly, he built troop 108, an institution that we all benefitted so much from over the years. Troop 108 was special, there are no two ways about it. The boys in 108 had an experience in scouting unlike any other scouts who I have ever met throughout my life. First and foremost, the friendships that we made transcended our time at the cabin. These circles prevailed across different sports and extracurricular activities and for years after we passed through the ranks of scouting. Let’s talk about the level of achievement that Moose compelled us to work toward. I reviewed the troops historical Eagle roster. 21 of the troops 125 Eagle scouts were active during my 5 years as a scout with 108. That’s pretty highly concentrated especially when you consider that 108 has been cranking out Eagles for 86 years. We’re talking about 17% of the Eagles in 6% of the time. Additionally, many of us chose to up the ante and spend our summers at Camps Ware and Horseshoe. Moose was a Camp enthusiast, spending countless weekends down there providing service, leadership and brotherhood. What I’m trying to illustrate here is that the Moose effect was immeasurable. He created an overwhelming positive culture that made us want to stay engaged with scouting and allowed to get maximum return. Return of friendship, moral fortitude and leadership that we could impart in future chapters of our lives. In conclusion, without Moose, who knows what sort of experience we would have had in scouting. Something tells me scouting would never have been the same without him. Thank you Moose for everything you’ve done for us, while we were scouts and now as men.