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Community Corner

Local Youth Earns Eagle Scout and VFW Honors

Middletown High School senior Mason J Thurman Michalski received his promotion to Eagle Scout as well as an award from VFW Post 4487.

When Mason J Thurman Michalski, 18, received his promotion to Eagle Scout last week, it was only fitting that the ceremony take place at Gilbert-Burton VFW Post 4487, which serves Newport and Middletown. Not only had Michalski’s Eagle Scout community service project been to fix up the Post’s building, but Post Commander Raymond Tillery is practically family.

“I’ve known Mason since he was 5 years old,” said Tillery, a decorated Vietnam veteran, “and the integrity and character of this young man is outstanding.” Indeed, the VFW members voted unanimously to give Michalski a letter of commendation in recognition of his community service, and Tillery presented the award during the same ceremony in which Michalski received his promotion to Eagle Scout.

A member of Troop 7, Michalski has been working toward his Eagle Scout rank for years, and it is a milestone that only two percent of Boy Scouts achieve. “I’ve worked my way up through the Scout ranks, ever since I first joined, and I’ve been heading toward this for a while,” said Michalski, a senior at Middletown High School.  “The outcome was pretty good.” Troop 7 is under the leadership of Scoutmaster Jim Fowler.

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For his community service project—which is one of the requirements for Eagle Scout promotion—Michalski worked with his father, retired builder Jay Cook, to renovate the façade of the Post building, which is located on Underwood Lane, in Middletown. Michalski replaced rotted fascia boards and soffits, and painted the building as well as the parking lot lines. Cook, who is Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 7, worked with Michalski to secure donations of building materials from Casey Builders and the Middletown Home Depot store.

Michalski also earned numerous merit badges along the way to becoming an Eagle Scout, including first aid and lifesaving badges that are relevant to his ambition to become an EMT or firefighter one day.

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Michalski’s interest in the Scouts initially was inspired by his love of camping, which his mother, Lorna Cook, says is a family activity. “We’ve always been a camping kind of family,” says Lorna. In addition to his parents, Michalski’s family also includes his brother, Camden Cook, 12; and his sister, Caleigh Cook, 10.

With his Eagle Scout rank in place, Michalski has also been promoted to Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, a position that provides a bridge between the young Scouts and the adult leaders. Michalski’s brother, Camden, is a Scout in the troop, and one of Michalski’s goals is to help Camden advance through the ranks.

“These kids are in our community doing good things,” says Raymond Tillery. “It was easy for us to recognize Mason.”

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