Boy Scout Eagle Project Honors Flag

Many of the scouts from North Hampton Boy Scout Troop 162 spent Flag Day (this past Sunday, June 14th) around the American flag at the North Hampton Bandstand.

They were completing work on a yearlong project under the leadership of Boy Scout Jake Higgins. Sunday’s work was the final phase of Jake’s Eagle Scout project.

It was important to Jake to finish the work on Flag Day because, as he said, “my project focuses on respecting the Flag.”

Jake had noticed that the lights at the bandstand’s flagpole hadn’t been working for some time. Knowing that a flag flying at night should be illuminated, Jake decided to do something about it.

After putting together a plan and a proposal, Jake went before the Eagle Scout Board and received approval to begin work. He arranged to have the old lights removed and installed new weatherproof LED lights last fall. He completed the work with a local electrician on Veteran’s Day 2014, and was proud to see the flag lit up again that night.

Jake sold engraved bricks to cover the costs of this project. This weekend, he and a crew of Troop 162 scouts and adults, prepared the site and installed the bricks around the flagpole.

Jake said the whole experience taught him “the importance of organization, proper planning, and time management.”

Jake would like to thank Greg Smith of Tritan Electric, and Mike Passero of Rye Beach Landscaping, who generously donated their time, equipment, and expertise.

He would also like to thank Delores Chase and the Bandstand Committee; North Hampton Home Depot assistant store manager Ron Nason; the North Hampton Business Association; everyone who supported the project by ordering bricks; his Eagle Scout Advisor, Paul Cuetara; and his team of hard working helpers, including his Scoutmaster, Richard Tharp, fellow Scouts, their parents, and his family.