Elizabeth Farina

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efarina@midlothianexchange.com

An Eagle Court of Honor was held for five young men from Troop 869 at the Salisbury Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Jan. 4. According to the ceremony’s program, four of 100 in Boy Scouts will reach Eagle Scout. For the local troop, which had 20 new members this year, the odds were five out of 30 Scouts.

Alex Corvin, Todd Estep, Michael Guerci, Tyler Pridgen and Andrew Wilhite received their Eagle Scout Award, each completing projects over a year’s time that benefit the community. Among the five men, they have over 50 years of combined experience with the Boy Scouts of America. 

“One of the pleasures I’ve had being assistant scoutmaster and Scoutmaster over the years is watching these guys grow up from little tykes to young men,” said Troop 869 Scoutmaster Tom Guerci. “You can’t imagine all the mischief and adventure we get into when we go on outings.”

Guerci shared the enthusiasm and the quality of character of each Eagle Scout. He noted that Wilhite was thoroughly disappointed when a rescheduled February trip to Crab Tree Falls was cancelled because it was “more bitterly cold.”

Tyler Pridgen receives his Eagle Scout Award and a handshake from his dad Doug as his mom Ginger looks on.
All of the young men’s fathers had participated in Scouting, and three had older brothers that reached the rank of Eagle Scout.

“He was definitely disappointed,” Guerci said. “Alex [Corvin] was always there and ready to participate. When we lost older scouts, Alex was there to lead the troop. He brought a lot of enthusiasm and maturity. He would have something prepared or ad hoc if need be,” he said.

Guerci continued to note a memory with each of the Scouts. “All of these guys, when you get to know them, you get to appreciate how different they are but what good quality young men they are too,” Guerci said. “Their interests are varied from engineering, to literature, to possibly pre-med to theater,” he said.

For Wilhite, Scouting has built a positive experience of self-reliance. “Boy Scouting teaches you the ability to get things done,” said Wilhite. “I realize that Boy Scouts … is a wonderful thing. My troop especially have had fortunately great leaders, Mr. [Bill] Muth, Mr. [Carl] Halye, and Mr. [Tom] Guerci these guys have worked really hard cared about our troop and we’ve been really fortunate to have them.” 

Pridgen agreed that the adults were instrumental in supporting his scouting career, especially his mom Ginger, a former Webelos Den Leader. “There was no question in my mind to move up to Boy Scouts or not. The question was, ‘Which troop I was going to be in?’” Pridgen said.

The choice came down between a Disney trip with another local troop or Slaughterball with Troop 869 in sixth grade. “It was an awesome choice.”
Memories abounded from each of the Scouts in reflecting on their career with friends and family gathered at the ceremony. Alex Corvin was thankful for the outdoor experience, even when a 7-mile hike had an additional 10 miles added to the trip during a wrong turn. Corvin was also thankful of Mr. Rodney Rixey’s cooking during camp outs, too.