The ceremony recognized the achievement of the four boys in attaining the highest rank of Boy Scouting.
Robert Hefferon, Quan Pham, Eswar Sriram, and Sudharsan Sriram, members of Boy Scouts of America Troop 869 in McLean, received their Eagle Scout medals in a ceremony at Immanuel Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Feb. 22. This ceremony recognized the achievement of the four boys in attaining the highest rank of Boy Scouting. In the presence of their fellow members of Troop 869, families, friends, and members of the community, the boys were presented with their Eagle Scout badges, certificates, and Eagle Scout neckerchiefs in honor of this accomplishment. As a culmination to their many years of participation in Boy Scouts, each of the boys oversaw the planning and implementation of a significant project that benefited an organization that was important to him and to the McLean community. Each project received support from the volunteer help of the scouts of Troop 869 and numerous community members who pitched in to help get the jobs done.
Robert Hefferon (Robbie), a senior at the Landon School in Bethesda, Md., chose to do his project at his church, Immanuel Presbyterian Church in McLean. Robbie’s project, completed in the summer of 2012, was to plan and construct a meditation labyrinth built of bricks and gravel on the church grounds for the use of church and community members. This project involved over 270 hours of planning and construction.
Quan Pham, a senior at Langley High School, conducted his project at Cooper Middle School, where he had been a student. Quan planned and managed the construction and installation of spectator benches for students to use during outdoor physical education classes and for community use during recreational activities, as well as planting trees and shrubs to improve the school grounds. Quan’s project, completed in April 2013, involved over 200 hours of planning, design, construction, and installation.
Eswar Sriram (Ezzy), a senior at Langley High School, volunteered his efforts at his neighborhood elementary school, Churchill Road Elementary School. His project included installing a drainage system and cement base to anchor a compost bin and improving the surrounding area, including adding a stone path, in order to promote conservation and recycling. Ezzy’s project, completed in 2012, involved nearly 130 hours of planning and implementation.
Sudharsan Sriram (Suddy), a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, did his project at Westgate Child Center in McLean, where he had attended pre-school and summer programs as a child. His project involved building a 19-foot-long stepstool and wooden shelves to store books and toys and painting existing shelves. The project, completed in 2012, involved nearly 140 hours of planning and labor.