Two Eagle Scouts from Troop 17 Short Hills Bestowed Vigil Honor

The Order of the Arrow is the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America, and promotes cheerful service to others. It is composed of Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Troop 17 Scouts are members of the Lenapehoking Lodge IX that consists of approximately seven-hundred members in Northern New Jersey. Annually, only a few members (< 12) can be selected from the entire Lodge to receive Vigil Honor based on exceptional and unselfish service to others.

The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for service to lodge, council, and Scouting. Membership cannot be won by a person's conscious endeavors.

Recently, thirty members of Troop 17 (boys) and Troop 19 (girls), from St. Rose of Lima Church - Short Hills, were on hand at the annual Lenapehoking Lodge IX banquet in Paramus to witness not one, but two Troop 17 Eagle Scouts receive this high distinction. Eagle Scout Ryan Cannon and Eagle Scout Hunter McIntosh join the late legendary Scoutmaster Ken Fineran, as the only known Vigil Honor members in the 75 year history of Troop 17.

“It is remarkable that two Scouts from the same troop earned the Vigil Honor in the same year. I see this as a testament to Hunter and Ryan’s commitment to cheerful service to others and to the inspiring example set by Scoutmaster Fineran. ”, said James McKenna, Scouts BSA Chartered Organization Representative for St. Rose of Lima Church.