Vassalboro’s Benjamin Delbert Reed received his Eagle Scout rank during a ceremony April 16 at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church.
Reed, who graduated from Erskine Academy and now attends the University of Southern Maine, completed all requirements for the Eagle Scout rank in 2020 but was unable to be presented with the award because of COVID mandates, according to a news release from Chuck Mahaleris, district chairman for the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting.
The award was pinned to his uniform by his mother Jennifer Reed, and his father Kevin Reed presented him with his Eagle Scout certificate. “Becoming an Eagle Scout is not the end of the journey,” Kevin said. “It is the beginning. As an Eagle, you have far greater responsibilities than you had before.”
“Scouting has had a huge impact on my life, and through it I have learned more about myself than I would have had I never been in the program,” Ben Reed said. “I’ve learned a lot about leadership skills and how to be an effective leader.”
Reed had served as patrol leader for the Ghost Recon Patrol and as the Troop’s Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Chaplain’s Aide.
“I learned very quickly that being a leader is not simply ordering others around, but instead it is being generous with your time, and delegating tasks and responsibilities to your peers,” Reed said. “I remember coming into this program being brought by my parents. I didn’t really know what I was doing at first, but as the years went on I started thinking about what I was doing in Scouting and who I am as a person.”
Reed credited those he worked with in Scouting with helping develop his confidence in life.
Troop 410 also presented the Star Rank to Cole Fortin and the Life Rank to Nathan Polley, both of Vassalboro.
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