Eagle Scout honored by Sons of the American Revolution

In Rafe Proctor’s time as a scout, he earned 67 merit badges, attended five summer camps and camped 133 nights.

The pinnacle of his scouting came recently with the completion of his Eagle Scout project that included installing a flag retirement drop box outside American Legion Post 663 and the construction of a U.S. flag retirement fire pit in Newbury Township’s Veteran’s Memorial Park.

He organized a group of scouts, adults and community members to volunteer over 175 hours of service to design, paint and install the collection box and to build the pentagon-shaped flag retirement fire pit.

For his efforts, he was honored with a certificate and trophy earlier this month in a ceremony by the Northeastern Ohio Society, Chapter 12 Sons of the American Revolution.

Leading the ceremony was Jim Pildner, the organization’s president.

“A young man of Rafe’s caliber represents, I believe, the best example of today’s youth and truly gives every American a favorable and patriotic hope for the future of our country,” Pildner said in his welcome to the assembly.

Rafe is an Eagle Scout and member of Scout Troop 99 of Newbury Township and a member of the NEOSSAR chapter.

The Concord Township resident is a senior at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School in Chardon and plans to continue his education with the intent to attend medical school.

The Northeastern Ohio Chapter 12, chartered since April 1948, is a society belonging to the Sons of the American Revolution, whose purposes are promoting patriotism, the institutions of American freedom, a respect for national symbols and the value of American citizenship.

Rafe said it was to not only promote community but celebrate his national pride in remembrance of the brave servicemen and women who served the country.

“It was when I was working on my Eagle Scout Genealogy Badge that I learned of my ancestor, Moses Proctor, who fought in the Revolutionary War,” Rafe said. “And this discovery prompted me to research my family’s history and to become a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

“I used the American flag as the topic of my essay,” he added. “The values attributed to the colors of the flag reminded me of those characteristics commonly exhibited by the militiamen who fought during the Revolutionary War.”

The qualifications to win this honor consist of a chapter application along with an essay, a four-generation genealogy chart, and a questionnaire.

This information is then forward by the Chapter Eagle Scout Award Committee representative to the OH Society Eagle Scout Committee chairperson, whose committee then considers all applications to determine the winning candidate.

SUBMITTED Rafe Proctor, right of flag, is shown with Jim Gilbert, left, Eagle Scout Award chairman for NEOSSAR #12; Steve Hinson, past state society president of the OHSSAR; Andrew Proctor, his father; Lance Beebe, OHSSAR Eagle Scout chairman; Jim Pildner, chapter president, NEOSSAR #12; and Troy Bailey, vice president of the OHSSAR.

SUBMITTED From left, members and leaders of Scout Troop 99 Mike Keherly, left, James Keherly, Eagle Scout; Rafe Proctor, Eagle Scout and OHSSAR Eagle Scout Award recipient; Andrew Proctor, Rafe’s father; and, Rob Poelking, Scoutmaster for Troop 99, are shown.