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Scout's paint project tougher than it looked
(by Sue Hoffman - December 04, 2008)
Scout's paint project tougher than it looked
By SUE HOFFMAN
Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bainbridge has received a face lift as a result of an Eagle Scout project led by Stephen Jira and helpers from Troop 504 in Solon.
Last summer, Stephen, along with several members of his troop and about 10 parents, caulked and painted the original wooden section of the church that now serves as its education wing. Including planning, the project took five days and involved a combined 191 hours of labor.
A senior at Solon High School, Stephen received the Eagle Scout award, the highest rank in Boy Scouts, at a recent court of honor at Church of the Resurrection in Solon. He thanked his parents, Joel and Deborah, for their support and his brother, Daniel, also an Eagle Scout, for inspiration. He gave pins of recognition to his parents and a mentor pin to assistant Scoutmaster Eric Lavins, of Solon, for his guidance.
Much of his gratitude was directed at his fellow Scouts. "I really owe it to all the members of the Cobuffalo patrol for being the reason that I actually stayed in Scouting for this long," he said, reflecting on his 10 years as a Boy Scout.
Stephen recalled the pledge he and the other Scouts signed while hiking 60 miles in August 2006 through the mountains of New Mexico. Former Scoutmaster Timothy Holmes asked the Scouts to sign a pledge that they would reach the rank of Eagle Scout and seek higher education. All of the Scouts who signed the pledge have either received the Eagle Scout award or have projects in the works.
Among the candidates for Eagle Scout, Greg Lavins, a senior at Solon High School, has added a limestone path at Lord of Life Lutheran Church.
"It makes me feel good I could do it," Stephen said about his Eagle Scout project.
Scott Strawn, of Solon, Troop 504 Eagle Scout adviser, had suggested the church project, Stephen said. "When I found out it involved painting, I was really happy, since this is something my family does well."
The job started with a day of caulking. "At the end of the first day, I realized there was a third color for trim around the windows. It added a ton of time." He said the job required a lot of precision and care.
"Stephen learned a lot about how projects can expand," Scoutmaster Herbert Wilson said. "He did a great job, and the church really looks good."
Troop 504 is sponsored by Solon Veterans of Foreign War Post 1863 in Bainbridge.
Mrs. Jira, who served as a den mother for Stephen's Cub Scout troop at Lewis Elementary School, said that, from the time he was a toddler, her younger son watched his brother's involvement in Scouting.
He became a "tag-along" when Daniel was a Boy Scout in Troop 504, she said. One time, the Scouts were selling bags as a troop fund-raiser, she said. "He was a little 4-year-old helping with the sales. He is famous for the bag sales in the troop."
Later, Mrs. Jira said, "It was an inspiration for Stephen to watch the boys become Eagle Scouts. He thought someday it would be him."
For his Eagle project, Daniel Jira, now a chef with Marriott Corp. in New Orleans, renovated a storage room and food pantry for the needy in 2003 at Church of the Resurrection.
Mrs. Jira, who has served as the troop's merit badge counselor, said the Eagle Scout project helps boys learn management skills. "They learn how to manage their lives. It's been a great program and a great journey," she said.
Stephen, who plans to attend the University of Dayton, recalled several steps on that journey as a Cub Scout and 10 years in Boy Scouts. He achieved the Arrow of Light, the only badge in Cub Scouts that can be worn on a Boy Scout uniform. He also has an award for backpacking over 50 miles while completing conservation projects. In addition, he is a member of the Order of the Arrow, an honor society and service group of Scouts who exemplify the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Stephen was able to continue his involvement through high school, with a busy schedule that included four years on the Solon High School swim team and marching band. He also plays trombone in the show choir band.
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