Grandma Anne, Grandpa Franz, and Grandpa Al flew in for the week to celebrate and participate in Andrew's Eagle Court of Honor. Grandpa Al had saved and brought all sorts of memorabilia items both from his days as a Boy Scout and Mike's journey as a Boy Scout. I was able to display those items on a separate table at the Court of Honor. Andrew really loved being able to see his dad and grandpa's merit badge sashes and other Boy Scout items. Andrew's display table consisted of his Cub Scout rank cards, shirt, hats, neckerchiefs, and belt loops, his Boys Scout merit badge cards, rank cards and patches, Order of the Arrow sash, a US flag that was flown over Washington DC from Mike's days as a Boy Scout, 2 letters from Generals in the military plus a coin, a variety of congratulatory letters, his Eagle Scout certificate, neckerchief, slide, Eagle Project binder, and a signature book.
As people started showing up for the Court of Honor I was impressed by how many people showed up to support Andrew. We had anticipated that maybe 20-30 people would attend and were pleasantly surprised when we had to keep bringing in chairs. There ended up being well over 50 people in attendance that night ranging from family and friends to ward members, Eagle Project participants, and previous Scout leaders and school teachers. Brig Asay, the Scout Committee Chair, conducted the ceremony. Mike spoke about Andrew's journey through Scouting program and Grandpa Al presented Andrew with his Eagle certificate and pins. Both Mike and Al had lots of great things to say about Andrew and gave him some good advice. After getting his certificate and pinning the mother's pin on me Andrew said a few words about his experience. At the end he gave me some flowers and a gift card to Athleta. I wasn't expecting that and was so moved that he was so thoughtful. Near the end of the Court of Honor we watched a slideshow that I had put together about Andrew's journey to Eagle. It was so fun to see how much he had grown and changed over the years. I cried many times as I put it together, realizing that time was moving too quickly. Everything about the Court of Honor was pretty great.. Even Madeline, who was a bit fussy, didn't detract too much from the nice spirit that was present during the program. We couldn't be prouder as parents of Andrew in all that he accomplished through the Scouting program.
Family and Friends who attended:
Mike, Sara, Andrew, Peter, Emma, Abby, Madeline Wilhelm (Parents and Siblings)
Alfred Wilhelm Jr. (Grandpa)
Franz and Anne Kelsch (Grandparents)
Karl Kelsch (2nd Cousin)
Clark Milner (YM President)
Caden McDowell and family (Andrew's friend)
Dave Barkdull (11 year old Scoutmaster)
Peter Rasmussen and family (Andrew's friend)
Paul and Rosalia McKean (Family friends)
Bill Sampson (Merit Badge counselor and family friend)
Vint Atkinson (Eagle project participant and family friend)
Landon Perigo and family (Andrew's friend)
Corbin Gebski and family (Andrew's friend)
Brig Asay and family (Scout Committee Chair)
Herb and Susie Lawson (previous home teacher)
Alicia Low and Caden (Family friends)
Donald Spano (8th grade social studies teacher)
Chad Derosa (Dad's urologist work friend)
John Mancini (Dad's urologist work friend)
The Johnson family (Family friends)
Michelle and Nate Watabe and family (Family friends)
Grant Garlock and family (Andrew's friend)
Christian Seaquist and family (Andrew's friend)
Bishop McAllister (Bishop)
Jonathan Jackson (Bishopric 2nd counselor)
As people started showing up for the Court of Honor I was impressed by how many people showed up to support Andrew. We had anticipated that maybe 20-30 people would attend and were pleasantly surprised when we had to keep bringing in chairs. There ended up being well over 50 people in attendance that night ranging from family and friends to ward members, Eagle Project participants, and previous Scout leaders and school teachers. Brig Asay, the Scout Committee Chair, conducted the ceremony. Mike spoke about Andrew's journey through Scouting program and Grandpa Al presented Andrew with his Eagle certificate and pins. Both Mike and Al had lots of great things to say about Andrew and gave him some good advice. After getting his certificate and pinning the mother's pin on me Andrew said a few words about his experience. At the end he gave me some flowers and a gift card to Athleta. I wasn't expecting that and was so moved that he was so thoughtful. Near the end of the Court of Honor we watched a slideshow that I had put together about Andrew's journey to Eagle. It was so fun to see how much he had grown and changed over the years. I cried many times as I put it together, realizing that time was moving too quickly. Everything about the Court of Honor was pretty great.. Even Madeline, who was a bit fussy, didn't detract too much from the nice spirit that was present during the program. We couldn't be prouder as parents of Andrew in all that he accomplished through the Scouting program.
Family and Friends who attended:
Mike, Sara, Andrew, Peter, Emma, Abby, Madeline Wilhelm (Parents and Siblings)
Alfred Wilhelm Jr. (Grandpa)
Franz and Anne Kelsch (Grandparents)
Karl Kelsch (2nd Cousin)
Clark Milner (YM President)
Caden McDowell and family (Andrew's friend)
Dave Barkdull (11 year old Scoutmaster)
Peter Rasmussen and family (Andrew's friend)
Paul and Rosalia McKean (Family friends)
Bill Sampson (Merit Badge counselor and family friend)
Vint Atkinson (Eagle project participant and family friend)
Landon Perigo and family (Andrew's friend)
Corbin Gebski and family (Andrew's friend)
Brig Asay and family (Scout Committee Chair)
Herb and Susie Lawson (previous home teacher)
Alicia Low and Caden (Family friends)
Donald Spano (8th grade social studies teacher)
Chad Derosa (Dad's urologist work friend)
John Mancini (Dad's urologist work friend)
The Johnson family (Family friends)
Michelle and Nate Watabe and family (Family friends)
Grant Garlock and family (Andrew's friend)
Christian Seaquist and family (Andrew's friend)
Bishop McAllister (Bishop)
Jonathan Jackson (Bishopric 2nd counselor)
