(Ezra Clark, Bryant, and Matthew Steffen)
Happy New Year Everyone!
It has been snowing and snowing here so the kids had their first day of sledding out in the hills behind our house today. And we just found out that church is canceled tomorrow so I guess we really are having a "snow day" . . . the perfect time to make a newsletter update.
We had such a wonderful Christmas and New Years with our good friends, the Clarks. Besides the pure fun of the Christmas celebration itself, we enjoyed the Heidelberg Christmas market, an evening in Munich, skiing in Garmisch, duets and band numbers, ice skating, movies, a "hoedown" and fireworks on New Year's Eve, plus board games and snowball fights! Their visit was such a blessing to us and made our holidays truly memorable.
Another highlight of the past month was the joint Eagle Court of Honor held for Christian and three other boys from his Boy Scout troop. I had hoped to have the link to the local media coverage of the event, but it is not yet available. If you're interested in more details, I attached the news article I submitted to the local paper -- we are so proud of all four of these boys!
(Aaron Steffen, Taylor Clark, Christian, and Brandon Campbell)
I've started off the new year with a long list of goals AND a new look -- blond and reddish highlights in my hair. I actually only wanted to go a little lighter, but I look like a tiger! Sorry, no picture. I guess you'll just have to come and see me!
Love to all,
Lisa
A Special Year for Troop 59 of Heidelberg
The rank of Eagle is achieved by only about four percent of all Boy Scouts – an elite group which includes some famous past recipients such as Neil Armstrong and Steven Spielberg. The year 2009 proved to be one of honor for Troop 59 as six young men from their troop completed the rigorous requirements to earn this highest award in scouting. Brothers Dayne and Jordan Poulton led the way in the spring, closely followed by Taylor Clark and Christian Allred. Brandon Campbell and Aaron Steffen were able to complete their requirements by the fall of the year.
Leading and organizing a community service project is one of the main requirements needed for this outstanding achievement. Dayne led a painting project at the Patton Gym, while Jordan oversaw the installment of the new volleyball sandpit located on Patrick Henry Village. Taylor implemented a recycling program for several businesses in the Heidelberg Military Community, and Christian led a headstone beautification project at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial located in St. Avold, France. Brandon organized a group which worked to beautify playgrounds and the skate park in the Mark Twain Village housing area, and Aaron headed up a Red Cross blood drive which yielded a record quantity.
Four of these Eagle Award recipients were honored in a joint Court of Honor held on 2 January 2010 in the Heidelberg LDS Chapel in Wieblingen – Taylor Clark was even able to attend with his family despite a PCS move to Georgia earlier in the year. Parker Crandall, Eagle Scout and former member of Troop 59, gave the keynote address with the theme of setting and achieving goals. Jeffery Steffen, the former scoutmaster who had played an integral role in assisting each of these boys, was not able to attend due to his deployment to Afghanistan, but the honor of his presence was nonetheless felt as each boy received an American Flag (flown in Kabul) accompanied by individual letters of commendation from LTC Steffen. The letters were read by each of the boys’ mothers -particularly poignant as Mrs. Steffen and son Aaron fought back tears as she read the letter from Aaron’s father.
It was definitely a special year for Troop 59. These fine young men have set the precedent – one that several young scouts from Troop 59 have already undoubtedly noted.
Submitted by Lisa M. Allred
