Alex Wells and Austin Murphy.
Earlier this year, Kingston Boy Scout Troop 7 members Austin Murphy and Alex Wells attained Scouting’s highest achievement — the rank of Eagle Scout.
For his project, Alex Wells built ceremonial American flag retirement grounds at the Veterans Memorial located at Esopus Town Hall. With the help of fellow scouts and the community, Alex built a stone patio with a granite centerpiece which holds firepit where flags are ceremoniously disposed of. It was built in honor of Glen E. Hunter, Alex’s late grandfather who served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War
During Alex’s scouting career he earned 36 merit badges, as well as Bronze, Gold and Silver palms. He served as a quartermaster, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, junior assistant scoutmaster and currently as assistant scoutmaster. He is also a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and is currently chapter chief. Alex will be attending Paul Smith’s College, majoring in environmental science, in the fall.
For his Eagle Project, Austin Murphy introduced two finished picnic tables and six finished benches to Rotary Park in Kingston. The benches increase the amount of seating at the park, especially across the bridge where there were previously very few seating areas. The tables added seating and eating areas in the field, which previously only had one table. The project also included weeding, planting of flowers, and mulching three overgrown flower boxes at the park. One of the flower boxes had its perimeter timbers replaced as well. The project consisted of 420 volunteer hours and 33 volunteers.
During Austin’s scouting career he earned 21 merit badges. He served as a den chief, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, junior assistant scoutmaster and currently as assistant scoutmaster. He is also a member of the Order of the Arrow. Austin will be attending Syracuse University, majoring in sports analytics, in the fall.