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| We come here today to honor Stephen. For those of you who do not know scouting, the troop has a Court of Honor at least 4 times a year. This is Stephens final court of Honor, for his spirit lives in our minds and our hearts. This is what I would say at his Eagle Court of Honor. I have camped with Stephen for 104 days and hiked with him for 174 miles and watched him during his over 100 service hours to the Community, City and State. He was as cheerful as could be under some rather difficult situations and his impish smile has lightened what could have been a dismal camp. He is a brother in scouting and in many ways gave us all a reason to smile. Stephen is an excellent cook, he is the only one of the scouts I have known in my 40 years who was able to cook Spam over coals, just right. The edges crisp and the center tender. Some cooks just turn out pieces of parchment or rectangles of charcoal. The hardest thing I have had to do with Stephen is to keep him out of the kitchen. He likes being near the food and teaching others how he would do it. He has hiked 174 miles with never a complaint and helped his brother scouts by carrying part of their load when he thought they may need help. He often did this when he thought no one was looking and refuses to admit he did so. He is one of the few scouts who tried to be totally groomed during a long term camp. I often think about the times I could hear his yells of happiness when taking a bath in the Animas. At least that is what I hoped the yells were and not the 50 degree water. In fact when I would have to deny him the privilege during thunder storms, he became very unhappy. On the flip side, 2 minutes after appearing in camp neatly groomed he would look like a hermit, newly emerged from a cave after a 2 month winter stay. While he does not like to be told he is responsible for others, he was responsible all the time. He just refuses to acknowledge that he does so. He is one of those persons who does what has to be done to help others and refuses to accept praise for it. He struggles hard in Scouting, for there is much paperwork to be done in order to achieve some merit badges. As one who had to read a lot of what he wrote I can sympathize with his teachers. But he knows the subject and can read his writing to me or redo them on a word processor then they become very understandable. Stephen has earned all twenty one required, and is working one his project proposal. Once when he was wrapping Christmas presents for a needy family, I went and offered my help in making the job a little neater and to my way of thinking more presentable to the recipient. Stephen informed me that he knew what he was doing. In fact his words were something to the effect, Look Ray this is for a Kid! I am wrapping it for quick and easy access. He does think ahead to the end result During long term camps and occasionally on some of the short term camps I would have discussions with Stephen about many things. His frustrations, concerns and desires. Without revealing the substance and matters I can tell you he loves his Mother, Father and yes his Sister too. When you are out in the great alone, there is time to ponder where you are going in life and to find who you are. Stephen knows this and knows where he wants to be. I have spoken in the present tense of Stephen because Stephen will always be with his Mom, Dad, Sister, Grandfather and all of his relatives. He will be on every trail we walked and on every campsite we visit. He is there at every meeting and activity. We will not forget his sprit, impish smile, cheerfulness, his ability to cook Spam. For his life, love and sprit will always be there. When I hear a steam train whistle, or eat a wild raspberry, pan for gold, tie a knot he is there and with me forever. It is my prayer that he will also be with his friends in those moments you spent together. For it is what we hold in our minds and our hearts that makes a person, not that which we see. |
| STEPHEN |
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| Stephen 2 |