Gregory Joseph, who attends the Dayton, Ohio, congregation, has achieved his Eagle Scout rank for Boy Scouts. Gregory is the son of Brian and Angela Joseph of Troy, Ohio, and the grandson of Bill and Patty Bratt of Portsmouth, Ohio, and Larry and Bobbie Joseph of Dansville, Michigan.

Gregory joined scouts as a Tiger Cub when he was 5 years old. He crossed over to Boy Scouts at age ll and moved up the ranks: Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star, Life and Eagle. He has earned 38 merit badges, held a variety of leadership positions in the troop and has achieved extra honors including: Camper, Woodsman, Firecrafier, Order of the Arrow, Brotherhood and now Eagle. He went to summer camps in Ohio and Indiana, Bearclaw, the 100th Year Jamboree in West Virginia and was a teen leader for NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training).

There are only about two percent of scouts who make it to the Eagle rank. Before the Eagle rank can be achieved, a Life Scout must plan, develop and lead others in a service project helpful to the community, a school or religious institution. The scoutmaster, troop committee, and the council must approve the project before the scout can begin.

Gregory chose to do a project for children. He collected small toys and books for the children at the Dayton Children’s Medical Center. The goal was for each child having to stay at the hospital to have at least one toy and book. The community and a few church congregations joined the endeavor and contributed over 400 toys and books. The Boy Scout troop made cards and personally delivered the gifts and visited the children in their hospital rooms.

Gregory said, “I want each of the children at the Dayton Children’s Medical Center to get well, be able to go home and have a good life. I also feel good knowing that my community, my troop and I helped put a smile on the faces of some very special children in the world.” This was a rewarding experience, which allowed the scouts to get out of their comfort zone while serving others.

Gregory plans to remain active in his troop and has already been asked to serve as an assistant scoutmaster.