Boy Scouts mix it up for older adults
Bruce Olsen, an Eagle Scout from years gone by, congratulates Westlake High School senior, Jesus Garcia, on a fine Eagle Scout project at Westlake Center for Community Services. Photo by Joyce Able Schroth
What does a mixture of Boy Scouts and older adults have in common? On Friday, Aug. 16, it was a good time at Westlake Center for Community Services.
Jesus Garcia, a senior at Westlake High School and a member of Westlake Troop 536, enlisted fellow Scouts, his leaders, family and friends to prepare a luncheon of salad, rigatoni and lemonade and added to the mix a short history of Oliver Hazard Perry (The War of 1812 – "Don't Give Up The Ship"), accordion music and specially prepared ice cream sundaes.
The Boy Scout group cooked, served and cleaned up. They couldn't take time to eat their own lunch but a large room full of older adults did and the applause throughout the afternoon was deafening.
Jesus holds the rank of Life Scout, has earned 21 merit badges and this event served as his Eagle Scout project. After a successful Board of Review, Jesus Garcia will join a special group, known as the Eagle's Nest, currently occupied in this country by film director Steven Spielberg, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, Stephen Breyer, among others.
Joyce Able Schroth
Director, Community Services Department, City of Westlake