Troop 343 Honors Newest Eagle Scout

A Hauppauge High School alumnus has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Hauppauge Troop 343 recognized Robert Burns as an Eagle Scout with Court of Honor ceremony on Feb. 12 at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church in Hauppauge. This is the highest rank it is possible for a Boy Scout to achieve.

Burns joined Cub Scout Pack 328 of Hauppauge in 1998, then later a member of  Boy Scout Troop 343 in 2003. Burns earned 31 Merit Badges, more than the 11 required, and completed a community service project that involved mountain a statue of St. Michael the Archangel in the Church of the Resurrection in Farmingdale. 

“The garden with Saint Michael the Archangel will provide a place for parishioners to pray and reflect and will impact the thoughts and prayers of the Church of the Resurrection community,” Burns said.

Burns led a team of 12 scouts, family and friends in completing the 208 hours of labor to install the status. The project involved repositioning a 2-foot high stone retaining wall on slate pieces, pouring a foundation and mounting the statue of St. Michael in the center of the garden.  Burns also cleaned the garden and replanted it with evergreens and perennials. 

All costs for the project were paid for through fundraising, including a bake sale at the Church of the Resurrection in Farmingdale and car wash.

In recognition of achieving Eagle Scout, Burns received several letters of recognition from national and local political leaders, including President Obama.  Troop 343 presented a glass statue to their newest Eagle Scout, the 74th in the troop’s 43-year history. By his side were his parents, Robert and Susan, and his younger brother 2nd Class Scout Michael Burns.