6 May 2010
Holocaust Memorial Eagle Project
Posted by admin under: recognition .
I have heard about many Eagle projects related to places of worship, but they are always Christian churches. Here’s a nice story about Brian Slatky out in New York who has honored his Jewish heritage while performing a service for his synagogue: a place of beauty and contemplation. Here are the details and pictures as written up by his mom. Keep an eye out for his impressive accomplishments in the religious program associated with Scouting.
On February 2nd, 1994, parents Lee and Cheryl and siblings Jeremy and Melissa welcomed Brian Elliott Slatky to the family. Brian was born over six weeks premature but weighed over eight pounds.
Brian began his Scouting career as a Tiger Scout in West Babylon Cub Scout Pack 175. He continued through the Wolf, Bear, and Webelos ranks and earned his Arrow of Light as a 5th grader in 2005. He immediately bridged into Boy Scout Troop 175, in which he has grown since his late childhood into the grown man he is today. During his years in Troop 175, Brian has held the positions of Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Librarian, Chaplin Aide, and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and has achieved the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star, Life, and, ultimately, Eagle.
Brian has been an active member in his synagogue for many years. During the period of illness leading to the passing of Rabbi Merin, Brian was frequently called upon to lead services for the Sabbath, and still helps lead the High Holiday services each year. In abidance with the Scout Law, Brian has shown reverence by earning the Maccabee, Aleph, and Ner Tamid emblems, and is currently working on earning the Etz Chaim, the final emblem for Jewish youths in Boy Scouts.
A driving force in Brian’s growth as a young man is his love of art. Brian is a passionate art student, and attends lessons after school each week, not only for enjoyment, but to learn necessary skills to enable him to reach his lifelong ambition of becoming a professional animator. Brian frequently attends East Neck Nursing Home with his art teacher to enliven the residents’ spirits with his upbeat personality and knowledge about art.
Brian developed the plans and supervised the construction of a Holocaust Memorial Garden on the property of his synagogue, Congregation Beth Sholom, at 441 Deer Park Avenue in Babylon. The Garden is shaped in a Star of David, with two benches inside the Star and a boulder with a commemorative plaque engraved with the word “Zikor,” meaning “Remember”. A large section of the property which is easily visible from Deer Park Avenue and was once unattractive has been beautified and become a wonderful place for reflection and meditation for all people.
Although he still has plenty of high school ahead of him, Brian plans to attend college when he graduates from West Babylon Senior High School to study art. Until then, Brian will remain an active member in Boy Scout Troop 175, and hopes to someday take a leadership position in a Boy Scout Troop.
They must mean adult leadership position. It’s clear Brian has already shown leadership as a youth. Here are the pictures provided.
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One Comment so far...
New York OA Trader | Shared Items From Around The Web – May 7, 2010 Says:
7 May 2010 at 9:01 am.
[...] Holocaust Memorial Eagle Project [...]
