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On June 2, 2024, at the National Capital Area Council Court of Honor, Aditya K. and Sheil S. earned the Certificate of Merit for working together to care for an injured Scout.

At about 8:50 on April 23, 2023, Senior Patrol Leader Aditya K. was called and went to see what happened when he saw his fellow Scout Sreedhar lying face up in the grass, covered in blood. He called for Sheil S, who was sitting near the campfire, to grab his first-aid kit.

Sreedhar appeared to be going into shock, so Aditya told Sreedhar to take deep and big breaths to calm him down while Sheil put on gloves and began methodically cleaning Sreedhar’s head, wiping the blood off Sreedhar’s face, noticing he had a bloody nose.

They learned that Sreedhar had run, face-first, into a tree while trying to catch a football. They checked for additional injuries, including possible dental injuries, and evaluated Sreedhar for a concussion. After treating Shreedhar’s head, Aditya and Sheil had him stand and identified a large bruise on his leg, which was treated with an ice pack.

The National Certificate of Merit may be awarded to a youth member or adult leader who has performed a significant act of service that is deserving of special national recognition. Congratulations to Aditya and Sheil for being recognized for their helpfulness and first-aid skills during this incident!

Venturing Crew 1345 of Burke, VA, embarked on an extraordinary journey to one of the most iconic buildings in the United States – the Pentagon. This visit was not just a tour of the five-sided headquarters (which the Crew counted to actually be 72 sides!) but a cool experience where they learned about different careers and government efforts.

The Crew members were particularly interested in the building’s significance. During their visit to the interior 9/11 memorial, a Crew member noted, “It was interesting how it commemorated all the people who were lost during 9/11, and how all their stories were shared through books and signed pieces of paper.” Walking through the various corridors dedicated to each of the military branches and major historical events, the Crew delved deeper into U.S. history and gained insights into the history of the individual branches.

Thanks to the Crew’s adult leaders, who are active in the military, the Scouts were able to have a more personalized tour and had the chance to meet with individuals serving in various military positions. These interactions provided the Crew with a deeper understanding of the diverse roles within the military and the people who fulfill them. Among these roles were a Flight Nurse and a Strategist, which aligned with the career interests of some Crew members. The flight nurse shared insights into the challenges and rewards of providing medical care and transporting the injured in military aviation, discussing the required training, the critical decision-making involved, and the significant impact they have.

Beyond the specific roles, the visit to the Pentagon opened the Crew’s eyes to a multitude of career opportunities within the military. Each person they talked to emphasized the importance of leadership, teamwork, and dedication – qualities that are important to the Venturing program. When leaving the Pentagon, the Crew was especially surprised to see Venturing BSA trading coins in the Fort America shop (Pentagon gift shop)! The Crew’s visit to the Pentagon was definitely a highlight of the Crew’s year and one they will be talking about for a while.

The World Organization of Scouting Movement’s (WOSM) Messenger of Peace Program (MoP) was initiated within BSA in 2012 and revamped in 2023.  The Messengers of Peace program encourages Scouts worldwide to contribute positively to their communities and to make the world a better place.  This unique service-oriented endeavor aims to promote a culture of peace and dialogue for mutual understanding, promote service initiatives led by Scouts, support the development of young people affected by conflict situations, provide further connection to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and connect Scouts around the world in a global network of 20 million Messengers of Peace. All members of Scouts BSA – both youth and adults – are eligible to participate at various levels of engagement:  personal for individual achievement, Champion for those who create and run an MoP project, Ambassador for those who create and run a project in partnership with another organization, and a few select projects of extraordinary accomplishment, called the Distinguished Service Project, awarded at the National level.  There is also a Unit MoP award for Units having at least 60 percent of their registered members participate in a service project suitable for the age level of the Scouts.

These are the first awards granted by the National Capital Area Council since the revised program entered into effect.  The two Scouts who earned these awards are Tariq G., who earned MoP Champion, and Kiernan E., who earned MoP Ambassador.

Tariq G. is an Eagle Scout in Troop 1137B, Sully District, and a senior at Centreville High School in Clifton, Virginia.  He completed his Eagle Scout and Messenger of Peace Champion Award Project at The Middleridge Park in Fairfax, Virginia.  The Project was community based and entailed removing invasive plant species and spreading native seeds to replace the lost foliage. The targeted species were not eradicated, but significant progress was made in reintroducing native plants as the dominant group in the area.  His project reduced the number of Boxwood and Wisteria plants, which will give much-needed real estate to native saplings and shrubs. He led 113 people, including BSA Scouts, BSA Scouters, other youth, and adults, over four days and 432 hours. His project enabled 10 BSA Scouts & Scouters to earn their Messenger of Peace Ring.

Kiernan E. is an Eagle Scout in Troop 1137G, Sully District, and a junior at Centreville High School in Clifton, Virginia. She completed her Eagle Scout and Messenger of Peace Ambassador Award Project at The Arlington-Fairfax Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) in Centreville, Virginia. The Project was community based and entailed removing invasive plant species in three phases. Phase three had an educational component and was incorporated into the Nature Station at the annual Sully District Twilight Camp held at the IWLA. She led 125 people, including Cub Scouts, BSA Scouts, BSA Scouters, parents, and siblings over seven days and 272 hours. Together, they removed 134 Autumn Olive Trees and 57 bags of other invasive plants. Her project enabled 35 BSA Scouts & Scouters to earn their Messenger of Peace Ring.