Grand Island Town Board: Eagle Scout receives proclamation

The Grand Island Town Board at its monthly meeting honored an Islander who has earned the highest and most prestigious rank in the Boy Scouts of America.

The board issued a town proclamation Monday to Benjamin George Shaw, who received his Eagle Scout award at a Court of Honor held Aug. 15.

Shaw, a Boy Scout for 12 years, earned the Eagle Scout rank while a member of Boy Scout Troop 630, sponsored by St. Stephen R.C. Church and led by Scoutmaster Scott Swagler. To earn Eagle Scout rank, Shaw completed a project where he designed and constructed two giant pressure-treated storage boxes for the Grand Island Soccer Club, one used at Charlotte Sidway School for the under-6 Instructional Soccer League where he coaches, and the other at Veterans Park for the U7 Micro-Soccer League. The proclamation noted Shaw's endeavor required more than 180 hours of planning and execution on his part.

The son of Patricia and Scott Shaw, Benjamin is a cadet with the Grand Island Fire Co., plays varsity soccer, and works for the Town of Grand Island Recreation Department at its summer sports camp.

In making the proclamation, the Town Board extended "its sincerest congratulations" on the achievement of Eagle Scout rank and wished him the best of luck as he works towards a doctorate of physical therapy.

Shaw thanked his family, especially his grandmothers for their support, and the Rev. Sam Venne of St. Stephen R.C. Church, who allows the troop to use the church's basement to meet.

"Without him we wouldn't have a place to go and these kind of things wouldn't happen," Shaw said.

Pictured from left, are Councilman Dick Crawford, Town Supervisor Mary Cooke, Shaw, and his parents. (photo by Larry Austin)