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Community Corner

Scouts Celebrate 100 Years in Westfield

Mayor leads officials in recognizing scouts.

Scouts, troop and pack leaders, parents and government officials came together at Westfield High School to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America on Monday night.

Boy Scouts District Chairman and head of Troop 73 (Holy Trinity) John Korunow led the ceremony on the front lawn of the high school, as the audience endured the freezing temperatures. He began by introducing the distinguished guests who sat beside him, including Mayor Andy Skibitsky, State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfeld), Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), town councilmen Mark Ciarrocca and David Haas, and WHS Principal Peter Renwick.

Eagle Scout Nick Roth then came to the podium to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Scouts Honor. Before the pledge, each Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop in Westfield presented the colors and stood beside Roth.

Congressman Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon County) spoke first and presented a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol to commemorate the occasion.

"We value and honor the leadership the Boy Scout movement has provided to this country," he said. "On behalf of the Congress of the United States, I present this flag to you with pride."

Skibitsky followed and discussed the important role the Boy Scouts play in Westfield. Through community service both locally and elsewhere, Skibitsky knows they have left an indelible mark on the town's history.

"The spirit of Westfield is shown in the Boy Scouts," he said. "You can't drive around town without seeing an Eagle Scout project that has added to the beauty of Westfield. I see a lot of future leaders in our community."

Skibitsky went on to recite a proclamation in honor of the anniversary. Korunow then introduced Bramnick and Kean who credited the Boy Scouts of America's century-long existence to their values and dedication.

Union County Freeholder Alex Mirabella spoke next, and recalled his son's time as a member of the scouts.

"I saw my own son grow through scouting," he said. "He was clearly enriched with the ideals of friendship, patriotism, teamwork, and working for the community."

After Korunow honored two former scouts in attendance, a current Cub Scout and Boy Scout went through the 12 points of the Scout Law. The Cub Scout listed each point and the Boy Scout followed by explaining how to follow each one.

Later in the evening, planning committee chairwoman Lucia Perpina spoke of the organization's accomplishments and goals.

"Scouting has brought families and communities together for 100 years," she said. "It is as vital and relevant today as it was when our journey began. Our goal has always been, and remains, that young men and women will desire to always do the right thing, even when no one is watching. We never stray from our principles."

At the end of the ceremony, Korunow invited all the scouts to the front so they could be in a group photo that will be preserved for the next century. All participants and onlookers were then invited into the high school where refreshments were served, and a charity drive to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti was set up.

Haas, a former Eagle Scout, learned the importance of perseverance from his scouting days.

"One of the things it taught me is that if you're doing something you like and you stick to it, you'll get there," he said. "That persistent focus on your goal is what I took away from scouting."

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