Augusta — Only the glow from candles broke the darkness in the room. Three Augusta 11 year olds stood flanked by teens dressed in traditional Native American garb. The audience sat in silence witnessing the important milestone. One teen explained the significance of the event that had drawn them all together -- the crossing over from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts, made possible when the three younger boys earned their Arrow of Light badges.
Eric Lombard, Theodore Mahaleris and Hunter Ripley were presented their Arrow of Light badges and crossed over the Arrow of Light Bridge that symbolically links Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. Their Webelos den leader, Shawn Gallant, and their parents stood with them on one side of the bridge, while members of Boy Scout Troop 603 were prepared to welcome them on the other side during the special ceremony at Veterans Memorial American Legion Post 205, Eastern Avenue, on March 30.
All of the youth in Cub Scout Pack 603, including the graduating Webelos, were recognized with badges and pins they had earned since the February Blue and Gold Banquet. The highlight of the evening, however, was the Arrow of Light Ceremony that was presented by members of the Pine Tree Council's Madockawanda Order of the Arrow Lodge Ceremonial Team.
Boy Scouts Connor Pillsbury of Troop 479 in China, Jared Baker of Troop 454 in Oakland, Jarod White of Troop 546 in Temple and Dustin Wiggin of Troop 199 in Jay described different the challenges the three youths encountered as they made their way through the Cub Scout ranks until finally reaching the highest award, the Arrow of Light badge.
"As we have said before, this ceremony marks an end of a journey," said Pillsbury. "But even as this journey ends, another is just beginning. Here at the summit of Cub Scouting you have found the start of a new trail. This trail is a pathway that leads to the realm of our brothers in the sky, the Eagles."
"That was the best ceremony I have seen," said new Boy Scout Lombard. "I'm very proud." Mahaleris and Ripley agreed.
"They [the teens on the ceremonial team] were awesome," Mahaleris said.
"It was a lot of work, but I had a lot of fun in Pack 603," Ripley said.
"The ceremony was remarkable," Den Leader Gallant said. "Those boys should be very proud of themselves and we were lucky they could come from all over the area to take part in our graduation ceremony. It made it very special for the boys."
The new Boy Scouts met their first challenge the following weekend when Troop 603 took a hike up Ragged Mountain. In all, the Scouts hiked 12 miles. "Scouting is all about challenging the boys," said Assistant Scoutmaster Dana Antworth. "They all did great."
Many other Cub Scouts were also presented awards during the March 30 gathering. Jacob Arbour, Leland Bailey, Nathaniel Barbeau, Joseph Beaulieu, Kaleb Bechard, Chris Black, Dustin Dyer, Chris Colson, Trey Muxima, Sawyer McCutcheon, Luc Sirois and Matthew Sirois all earned Disability Awareness belt loops. The boys in the Augusta Bear program in Pack 603 are among the first in the nation to earn this award, as it became an official part of the program in January of this year.
"They learned an awful lot about people who have disabilities," Den Leader Chris Bailey said. "The boys had to think a lot, and they really got into it. You could see when they really understood how challenging things can be for other people. It was like a light went on. They got it."
To earn the belt loop, the boys had to visit with a friend, family member, classmate or other person with a disability and learn what that person enjoys as well as finds difficult. The Cub Scouts had to attend a disabilities event -- such as an Easter Seals event, Special Olympics, a performance with sign language interpretation, an activity with Guiding Eyes dogs, or a wheelchair race -- and talk about the experience with their leader. They also had to make a display about one or more disabilities that included physical, learning or mental challenges.
Tiger Cubs Andrew Truman, Zack Hutchison, Killian Gagnon, Luke Giampatruzzi, Jonathan Urquhart and Kaden Urquhart earned their Tiger rank patches. Luke and Killian also earned their Bobcat ranks.
