Boy
Scout Troop 146 of Amery, held an Eagle Scout Court of Honor Sunday, November
14, 2004, at the historic East Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Deer Park.
The recipient was Samuel R. Johnson. Attending were friends, relatives and
fellow Boy Scouts from the Deer Park/Amery area. The one hour program
featured the recipient of the Eagle Scout award, parents Jerol and Jane
Johnson, Pastors Linda and Loren Schumacher, the Amery Boy Scout Troop,
Scoutmaster Bill Bethell and assistants.
Guest speakers included East Immanuel Pastor Linda Schumacher, former Amery Scoutmaster John Schenck, and Lowell Fouks, Sexton, Calvary Cemetery of Deer Park. Konny Borchers sang “God of Our Fathers”. Pastor Loren Schumacher opened the program with the Welcome and Invocation.
Escorts of Eagle Scout Candidate Sam were Eagle Scouts Andrew Sveback and Aaron Sabelko.
The Call to Order was conducted by Elijah Berndt, Life Scout, and Presentation of Colors was by Ryan Johnson, Webelos Scout. Other speakers included, Melissa Lee, Troop Committee Chair, Assistant Scoutmasters Bob Christenson, Rosemarie Spanel, and Margaret Sveback.
The program highlighted the adventures of Sam over the years as a scout. Also impressive was the work and dedication of the Amery Boy Scout Troop and Johnson family. There are more Eagle Scouts in Troop 146 including Antonio Spargo, Michael Elwood, Jacob Lee, Karl Scriba, Nick Spanel, Andrew Sveback, and Aaron Sabelko.
Boy Scouting involves real-life adventures, and Sam with fellow scouts have had their share. One adventure recounted was of a 60 mile hike in New Mexico when the troop realized they were lost after missing a turn. Using his training, Sam led the group that evening safely into camp 13.
Besides experiences on the trail, entrance into the Eagle Scout Hall of Fame requires a community service project. Sam’s project was a memorial to his grandfather, Raymond F. Hammelman, a Deer Park area farmer.
The beginnings of the project started with Calvary officials and what the cemetery needed. The final conception by Sam in cooperation with Cemetery officials evolved from a bulletin board on the west side to an information display case centrally located near the flag pole. The project turned out to be a major asset for the Deer Park area.
“This was much more than a bulletin board; this was the monument that would become an icon to rival the center gate in identifying Calvary Cemetery. ” -Lowell Fouks
Near the close of the program Scoutmaster Bill Bethell remarked, “The torch you carry is not only yours but is ours also.”
At Sunday's gathering was Sam's Grandmother Lois Hammelman, who also helped with the project.
“By the authority vested in me by the National Court of Honor of the
Boy Scouts of America, it is my privilege and my pleasure to pronounce you an
Eagle Scout. May the oath you have taken be engraved in your heart
forever.” -Bill Bethell Scoutmaster.
The Johnson Family
Dad (Jerol) holds the medals while Mom (Jane)
pins them on their son Sam.
Bill shakes hands after Sam officially becomes an
Eagle Scout.
Pastors Loren and Linda Schumacher
Amery Boy Scout Troop 146 has scored another major plus at Calvary Cemetery. The latest project was the laborious job of cleaning and painting of the fence at the cemetery. After two postponed work dates due to rain, the project finally got underway on Saturday, September 8, 2007. The project, wire brushing and painting, carried on into the following day and the troop returned at 9:00 a.m. to wrap it up.
Funding for the project came from a memorial in memory of Vernon Setter.
Tim Jasperson is the Amery Scoutmaster and an Excel Energy (NSP) employee who works in the Baldwin service area. His grandparents and uncle are buried at Calvary Cemetery. Steve Ramin pictured in the back row, is the assistant scoutmaster.
The first Amery Boy Scout Troop project was an information display case by Eagle Scout Sam Johnson near the flag pole. Ryan Johnson pictured above is Sam Johnson's younger brother.
Earlier, the Calvary Cemetery sign was knocked down and damaged by heavy equipment. In 2002 it was repaired, painted and reinstalled, the same year that Sam Johnson's information display case project was completed. Now the fence once again matches the Calvary gate and sign in color.
