The Eagles have landed in Bay Ridge

On June 22, more than 150 people came together at St. Anselm’s School to celebrate the achievements of four scouts from Boy Scout Troop 13.

Peter DiSalvo, Matthew Cappiello, Justin Vega and Michael Kelter all received their Eagle Scout Award after more than six years of hard work in the Boy Scouts of America.

The Eagle Scout Award is the highest award in scouting and includes earning at least 21 merit badges, mastering dozens of outdoor/survival skills and holding various leadership positions within the troop.

The final step to completing all the requirements of Eagle Scout successfully is that each scout must complete a major project for the community. He must create, implement and manage all aspects of the project himself.

These projects usually include dealing with various agencies and organizing dozens of volunteers to do the hands-on work. Peter and Michael’s project was to restore separate parts of the Green Belt Nature Trail in Staten Island. They oversaw the building of numerous footbridges over streams and ravines.

Justin ran a collection drive in which he gathered thousands of items to make up care packages for our soldiers overseas.

Matthew renovated the outside yard at the Augustana Nursing Home where hundreds of seniors go to relax and get some fresh air. Their outdoor haven was completely made over.

“I am extremely proud of all my newest Eagle Scouts,” said Peter DiSalvo, scoutmaster of Troop 13. “All of them asked for approval to do very involved projects and I was more than happy to put my stamp of approval of them.

“Achieving the Rank of Eagle Scout is not only the highest accomplishment in all of scouting, it is also one of the most difficult things a young man in our society can be awarded,” DiSalvo went on. “College admissions offices and career recruiters look very favorable at this achievement. “

Some of the guest speakers were State Senator Martin Golden, Councilmember Vincent Gentile, Fran Vella-Marrone (representing Congressmember Michael Grimm) and Father Michael Gelfant.

All had very kind words to say of our newest Eagle Scouts and the hard work and character needed to achieve this award. Christopher Bashinelli — who earned his Eagle Scout Award back in 2005 — was also honored this night because he was never formally recognized eight years ago.