David Ness of Elizabethtown receives Scouting’s Highest Honor

On Saturday, January 6th, Boy Scout Troop 53 of Maytown proudly presented the Eagle Scout Award to David Ness of Elizabethtown . Scouts, leaders, family and friends gathered at the social hall at Mary Mother of the Church in Mount Joy for the Eagle Court of Honor. The ceremonies were presided over by Troop Committee Treasurer John Coleman Sr., and Scoutmaster Mark Rorabaugh, both of Mount Joy , joined by half a dozen area Eagle Scouts.

David began scouting with Cub Scout Pack 263 in Mount Joy where he earned his Arrow of Light in 1999. He joined Boy Scout Troop 53 in Maytown and served in leadership positions including den chief, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, and senior patrol leader. An active camper with the troop, he was elected into the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s camping honor society, and served as the OA Representative for the troop.  In 2003, David participated in the high adventure program at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico , where he spent 10 nights camping and hiked 90 miles over rugged terrain.

He participated in community service projects including the Little Chiques Creek Watershed cleanup and the annual Scouting for Food drive. In 2005, the first Troop 53 Webelos Academy was planned and supervised by David. Scores of area Cub Scouts earned Webelos activity pins at the fall event. The troop continued the program in 2006.  David’s Eagle project included planning and coordinating the construction of framed screens designed to protect fish from predation at the Fish Hatchery for the Donegal Fish and Conservation Commission in Mount Joy .  The project was completed in May 2006.

David is the son of Brian and Loretta Ness of Elizabethtown . David’s father, Brian, serves a Assistant Scoutmaster and his younger brother Tommy is also a scout in the troop. The family are members of Mary Mother of the Church in Mount Joy where David is active in the youth group. He graduated from Elizabethtown Area High School in 2006 where he actively participated in Marching Band, Orchestra, Cross Country, Winter Track, and Track and Field.  He is currently a Physics/Engineering major at Shippensburg University . 

January 6, 2007