Last Updated: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:50 AM CST
Five local scouts attain Eagle rank
by Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff - mskubal@rhinelanderdailynews.com
Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is no easy task. It involves a number of requirements and a commitment to community. Having five young gentlemen from one organization, Scout Troop 672 of Rhinelander, attain the rank of Eagle Scout is unique and something to be proud of.
There are six basic requirements to attaining the rank of Eagle Scout: Be active in your troop, team, crew or ship for a period of six months after you have achieved the rank of Life Scout; Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life; Earn a total of 21 merit badges and list the month, day and year the merit badge was earned; While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of six months in a position of responsibility; Plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project; Formulate a statement of ambitions and life purpose; hold a Scoutmasters conference.
The Eagle rank in scouting has a long history. Robert S.S. Baden-Powell introduced badges for achievement in his 1908 book “Scouting for Boys.” Initially, the highest rank in Scouting in the U.S. was going to be the Wolf Badge, based on the Silver Wolf badge in Great Britain.
No Wolf rank was ever awarded. By the time the handbook was published, the highest rank in Scouting in the United States was given its current name, Eagle.
The Boy Scouts of America's first Eagle Scout was Arthur Rose Eldred. Eldred completed the required 21 merit badges for Eagle in April of 1912. He was listed in the honor roll section of the August 1912 edition of Boy's Life. He also received the BSA Honor Medal for saving the lives of two other scouts while on a camping trip.
Troop 672, with fifteen members, is sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Rhinelander.
Assistant Scoutmaster Dan Haack spoke about the new Eagle Scouts, “It's quite a feat to get five Eagle Scouts from a troop our size. The neatest thing is these five guys worked together as a team and challenged each other.”
Attaining the Eagle rank are Randy Platek, Robert Platek, Dan Kroll, Sye Haack and Shane Polzin. All are students at Rhinelander High School with the exception of Dan Kroll, now a freshman at Nicolet College.
Randy Platek is a sophomore at RHS and is active in wrestling, soccer and track and field. Randy has been awarded a bronze Eagle Palm, given for Scout activity beyond the rank of Eagle Scout. RHS junior Robert Platek is on the bowling team, a member of the Key Club and was the first in Troop 672 to receive a bronze Eagle Palm.
RHS graduate Dan Kroll now attends Nicolet College, where he is working on his degree in Fire protection. He is a member of Pelican Fire and Rescue and was formerly with the Newbold Fire Department. He is an assistant scoutmaster.
Sye Haack, a junior at RHS, plans on staying with the Scouts as an assistant scoutmaster and hopes to work as an auto mechanic and truck driver. Shane Polzin is a senior at RHS and a member of the ski team. He also plays soccer and tennis. All agree scouting is fun and working for the community is important.
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