Three young Pelham Bay men are ready to use the phrase “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle” with pride.
The highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America was presented to three local scouts from Pelham Bay Troop 145 with a special ceremony at Our Lady of Assumption School gym on Sunday, May 22.
T.J. DiMuro, 18, Anthony Cavalli, 17, and John Almodovar, 16, were promoted to Eagle Scout during the ceremony, a rank, that according to the Boy Scouts of America, only two million scouts have received since its creation in 1911.
Each honoree was tested to determine their scout knowledge and when they learned that they were all being promoted to Eagle Scout, they asked to have a combined ceremony for all family and friends to join.
According to the National Eagle Scout Association, one can become an Eagle Scout by “providing a base for continuing leadership in the scouting movement,” and all three boys have excelled in giving back to the Boy Scouts of America and their local communities.
“It’s such a major honor, it really is. It truly takes a lot of hard work and dedication,” said John Almodovar. “A lot of kids may feel that the Boy Scouts is a joke or might be easy, but I think they need to take it more seriously, especially the current scouts. This ranking shows how dedicated a scout is in their troop and how much they want to give back to the people around them.”
The youngest of the three honorees, Almodovar became a scout when he was 7-years-old and immediately fell in love with the experience. He went on almost all camping trips, won first place in many competitions, and quickly rose through the scout ranks.
Last year, Almodovar raised enough money through bake sales, flea markets, and candy sales to purchase and donate two Automatic External Defibrillators worth $3,000 to OLA.
Anthony Cavalli, who once considered leaving the Boy Scouts to pursue other activities, decided to remain a scout.
Recently, Cavalli collected hundreds of new and used eye-glasses and donated them to New Eyes for the Needy, who distributes prescription eyeglasses for poor children and adults throughout the world.
After the glasses were refurbished, they were shipped to Haiti to help those who are still struggling after the devastating earthquake last year.
“I was overjoyed when I found out I would become an Eagle Scout. I really am happy that I decided to stick with the scouts because becoming and Eagle Scout is an incredible honor,” Cavalli said. “I was a scout since I was seven and when you’re awarded something such as this honor you realize how much it pays off.”
T.J. DiMuro also recently collected over 70 boxes filled with toiletries, reading material and personal items to ship to United States troops stationed in Afghanistan. Included with the care packages were 400 miniature American Flags along with inspirational notes for each soldier.
