Michael Sherman, of Meadow Road in Old Westbury, studied the ritual requirements and conducted a book collection and burial as his community service project for Eagle Scout. "I know it's an unusual project," said Michael "but the more I got into it, the more I realized how much the community needed this kind of service." "The key to this project," Michael continued, "was spreading the word and collecting the books by the date of the burial. We collected books from as close as Roslyn and as far away as Temple Adas Israel in Bridgehampton, the oldest synagogue on Long Island."
Michael and his crew called nearly fifty synagogues on Long Island, and within a week's time, collected nearly thirty cartons of books and manuscripts for burial. They were stored until Sunday morning, when they were transported to the burial site along with shovels, spades, picks, pitchforks, work-gloves, goggles, a first aid kit, a cooler of drinks and other necessary items. This was no six-foot grave - the size of the hole required to bury thirty cartons of books is enormous. Michael's parents, Adam and Paula, as well has his brothers Franklin, and Dylan lent a hand along with the other recruits. And after four hours of breaking new ground and reaching the desired depth, Rabbi Rose of Old Westbury joined the crew to lead the service. Before long everyone was covering the books with the earth they had just dug out, and although filling it in was much easier than digging it out, it still took every bit of two additional hours to complete the task.
The primary difference between service for Eagle Scout, and other community service projects is that the Eagle candidate is prohibited from completing the day-to-day work on the project. He is charged with the conception, planning, and implementation of the project. At all the lower ranks, participation is encouraged -- but for Eagle Scout, the goal is management and leadership skills.
Michael has long proven himself as a leader in Troop 267, sponsored by Temple Beth Sholom of Roslyn Heights. As Senior Patrol Leader, and most recently as Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, he has earned the reputation of being a strong and unselfish leader. Michael is a member of Scouting's Order of the Arrow, has earned his Ner Tamid religious award, has served as a staff member at Onteora (the Scout Camp of the Theodore Roosevelt Council) and is a veteran of the National Jamboree in Virginia and the International Jamboree in Thailand. Earning Scouting's highest rank will cap a long and distinguished career as a Boy Scout.
Michael is a graduating senior from Wheatly High school and will be attending the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as a freshman cadet. "I leave for the Academy on the 26th of June, so I have a lot to get done before I leave," Michael said. "I've learned that nearly 20% of the cadets at the Academy are Eagle Scouts. If my application is approved, I'll be honored to be one of them." |
