Like most boys just stating first grade, I was put in scouting to meet new people and develop lasting friendships. Well here I am nine years later, still in scouting. I have since graduated to the Boy Scouts of America and am in the process of completing my Eagle project. I had never thought I would stay in scouting, let alone achieve the rank of Eagle. However, I can’t take all the credit for this achievement. The reason why I chose to stick with scouting and strive for my Eagle Rank in the first place was really from a promise I made to a very special man in my life. I only met this man once, and I doubt he still remembers me for more reasons than not, but the lasting effect he had on me is more than he could ever realize.

The summer going into ninth grade, I was looking forward to an action packed, adventurous, and relaxing summer vacation. Then I found out, my mom had signed me up for a mission trip that would take up the first two weeks of summer. Seeing this as a lame start to the summer, I went on the trip with a negative attitude. The overall idea behind this mission trip was to help and guide a variety of citizens in Philadelphia towards Christianity, all while supporting and listening to their grievances. On the third day, we visited the Simpson Retirement Home in the heart of the city. I had no clue that this day would influence my entire mindset.

After receiving a tour of the myriad branches set throughout the complex, we were directed into a cafeteria hall where about two dozen residents were scattered about tending to various activities. We were told to find one resident and just sit down and talk with him for a while. I, still being very agitated that I was even there to begin with, let everyone choose a resident until there was only one left. The Director of Activities told me that this man, Mr. Norman, rarely spoke and that he was very late in the stages of dementia, a form of Alzheimer’s disease, and not to get discouraged if he did not reply. For those who don’t know, Alzheimer’s disease affects the memory and in late stages, people who have the disease go brain dead and many times can’t remember what they were just doing, let alone what they did in years past. Not knowing what to expect, I sat next to the Mr. Norman and said hello. He glanced at me, and then looked away as if he hadn’t noticed me. I was lost; I had not a clue of what to talk about, so the first thing that came to mind was a trip I was going to take later in the summer. The trip was to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. This trip was a high adventure expedition for high-ranking scouts. As I was going on about this trip, Mr. Norman looked up eyes wide and glassy and interrupted me.

“Are you a Boy Scout?” he asked me. I was shocked, and so were the aides at the home. Later that day I had found out that these were the first words he had said other than please and thank you in the past year. I repeated back that I was, and he followed up with, “I was a Boy Scout back in the day believe it or not.”

For about an hour, he and I conversed back and forth about different topics pertaining to scouting such as Order of the Arrow, Philmont, Sea Base, Mason Club, and then he asked about my Eagle Scout Project. At that time, I had not planned on reaching the rank of Eagle; it just looked too far out of reach for me at the age I was. I was honest with him and told him that I had not planned on pursuing my Eagle Rank. At that moment, he told me that he wanted nothing more than to get his Eagle Rank, but right as he had planned on pursuing it, the Vietnam War rolled around, and he was drafted. The only dream that man had was ripped away from him by the wages of war.

I was speechless and after a long pause in our conversation, the only thing I managed to struggle out was a simple yet sincere, “I’m sorry.” He assured me that it was all right, but that he had one request of me. He made me promise that I would try my hardest to obtain the rank of Eagle, and if I didn’t, that I would be able to sit down at the end of the day and say I gave it my all. I had never agreed to something so sincerely as I had with Mr. Norman. This man, plagued with dementia, could barely remember what he ate for breakfast, he had just recalled something that meant the world to him and shared it with me. Having a grandmother suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, I know how hard it is to recall pieces of they’re past and repeat them. This meant more to me than he would ever know. That day when I had to say my final goodbyes to him, I left with a new view on life. From that day forth, I knew that I would try my very best to achieve the rank of Eagle, not only for me, but also for Mr. Norman. It makes me sad to think that the man who just changed my outlook of things would soon forget who I even was within the next few hours, but I would like to think that he knows how much his stories and teachings touched me.

As of this summer, I will be employing the final steps of my Eagle Project, for which I built a pergola and replaced gravel with brick pavers at the courtyard of my church. I would not have achieved any of this without the wise words of Mr. Norman. At my ceremony, I will of course be thanking my friends and family who helped me along the way; however, I will be giving a special thanks to Mr. Norman. Wherever he may be, I made a promise with him, and I want to thank him for making the promise. I will never forget the conversation we had back and forth of that warm summer day at the Simpson Home. That day changed my life, and through my determination, I fulfilled the promise I made to him. Thank you, Mr. Norman.