Carmel Friends Share Boys Scouts’ Honor Together
Milestones are even better when they can be shared with a friend.
Salvatore (“Torey”) Caruso and Declan Cunningham were honored by Boy Scout Troop 14 of Carmel as it held its Eagle Scout Court of Honor at the Carmel VFW Post 1374 Hall in Carmel on Saturday, April 27.
“It was fitting that that these two young men were able to celebrate this honor together,” said Michael Cunningham, Delan’s father. “They started their friendship in first grade at St. James grammar school and though they went their separate ways in terms of further schooling and sports, their mutual interest in Scouting helped to sustain their friendship throughout the years.”
The younger Cunningham and Caruso went through scouting together. They have each earned 30 merit badges and both serve in the role of junior assistant scoutmaster as senior scouts in Troop 14.
“Their leadership and experience provides an excellent model for the mostly young boys in Troop 14,” said the edler Cunningham.
Both boys earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts.
To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, each had to complete a challenging Eagle Scout Service Project. They both decided, in tribute to the veterans who have served our country and in gratitude to the support provided to Boys Scouts by the Carmel VFW, the sponsor of Troop 14, to work on projects for the benefit of the Putnam County Joint Veterans Council.
Caruso’s project was the “Patio for Patriots” which involved the construction of an 18′ by 22′ brick paver patio at the Putnam County Veterans Home, a residence for 12 veterans. Caruso passionately felt that our veterans deserved to have a place to enjoy an outdoor barbecue and to have a spacious area for relaxation outside during the nice weather. He supervised the completion of the project with 36 volunteer workers for a total of 154 hours of labor, developing strong leadership skills along the way. He finished off the patio and its 9″ deep gravel and sand base with a beautifully landscaped surround. The project also included putting in a patio table and chair set. Torey raised $1,800 to cover the cost of the project by organizing a pasta dinner fundraiser and also negotiated favorable supplier discounts and donations to help lower material costs.
Cunningham also completed a service project known as the “Old Glory Project” which involved the erection of the 12th memorial at the Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park; this tombstone memorial reads “Here Lies Old Glory”. Each year veteran, community, and boy scout volunteers help retire thousands of old U.S. Flags at the annual Memorial Day Weekend Watchfire at the park. Cunningham felt strongly that the ashes of these flags that have so proudly served us be disposed of in a dignified manner and they will be buried at the gravesite adjacent to the memorial. Additionally, an American Flag drop box was built and installed at the park. This project was completed under Cunningham’s supervision by a team of 29 volunteers who donated 171 service hours. Cunningham raised $2,400 for the project through a food concession, a t-shirt sale, supplier donations, and soliciting veteran organization sponsorships.
Both young men will be attending college in the fall. Caruso will be going to Siena College. Cunningham will be attending Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.
–Faith Ann Butcher
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.