Eldred Township resident Jonathon Smith was honored with the Eagle Scout award on July 31 at the American Legion in Gilbert for his work at the Garden of Giving. He built three large display boards and landscaped the area around them. The Legion is a charter organization for Troop 102.

“I chose this project because it involved hands-on activity using my carpentry skills,” Smith said. He is a 2021 graduate from Pleasant Valley High School and the Monroe Career and Technical Institute in the carpentry program. “I also wanted to build something that I could go back to years from now and see it still standing there, knowing I created it.”

Smith was also honored with a citation from the state House of Representatives sponsored by Rep. Jack Rader, a congratulatory certificate from the state Senate sponsored by Sen. Mario Scavello, a certificate of recognition from the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, and also certificates of recognition from Elks Lodge 319, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 678, American Legion Post 927 and the Pennsylvania Freemasons.

“We are very proud of Jon and his accomplishments,” said his mother, Barbara Smith. “He thought the project would be easy because of his carpentry skills, but he learned that projects don’t always go as planned. He had to work out the plans, secure vendors, recruit Scouts and friends for help with the project and meet deadlines. We (his parents, Barbara and Chris Smith) are glad he was able to gain from this experience and hope that it will help him as he moves forward in life.”

Smith’s brother Charles Smith, who is also an Eagle Scout, was the emcee for the ceremony, and a few friends that are also Eagle Scouts participated, as well as his scoutmaster, George Liebegott.

“I wanted to become an Eagle Scout because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Very few Scouts achieve it, and it is something that will follow/stay with me for the rest of my life,” Jonathon Smith said.

Smith said fundraising was a challenge because of COVID-19, but his family and friends and the Kiwanis Club of Easton contributed to his project. Nothing was donated, but he said he received generous discounts from Palmerton Lumber and Mesko Glass.

“They were very supportive of my project and were happy to help in that way,” he said. “I was pleased with how my project turned out. The final product was what I wanted to achieve. There were challenges along the way that helped me learn how to work with others and set expectations.”

Smith has been in Scouting since he was in first grade, where he started as a Tiger in Pack 102. He said what he liked the most about Boy Scouts was all the memories he made, the friendships he gained and the many experiences they had together.

“I went to Philmont Scout Ranch in 2019 with a group of friends from my troop. I saw some beautiful places and had experiences, such as white water rafting on the Colorado River, rock climbing, blacksmithing, horseback riding, along with all the hiking and camping. The memories we made on that trip will bond us together forever,” he said. “I would have to say that both reaching Eagle and going to Philmont are the pinnacle of my Scouting career.”