Four achieve Eagle Scout rank

Hugh McMillan

Special to the Gateway

Before their award ceremony, visitor Alfred Gunn, Public Affairs representative for Gig Harbor area LDS churches, asked four then-soon-to-be Eagle Scouts of Troop 1535 which two of them were brothers. Bobby and Robert Bennett, ages 16 and 15, identified themselves. With that, Derek Peterson and Ben Hisel-Ritz threw their arms around each other’s shoulders and said, “We’re brothers too, almost.”

The four young men had forged a bond through climbing Mt. Rainier together and on 50-mile backpack and canoe trips, a 100-mile bicycle trip and hours and days of service shoulder to shoulder.

Gunn said the four “brothers” had been in their ministry together since age 12 in the sponsoring Olalla Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Bishop Bob Theel said each of the four is, “distinctively individual and sets an example for the dozen or more Scouts who are following them towards Scouting’s highest award in the next two years.”

Among the 130 in attendance at their Eagle Court of Honor May 29 was Captain Ed Tetrick, Ben Hisel-Ritz’ faculty advisor in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at South Kitsap High School, where Ben is the Cadet Command Master Chief.

Hisel-Ritz was cited for descending from a mountain summit to carry the pack of an adult leader struggling the last few hundred yards to the top.

Bobby Bennett, currently working on a Habitat For Humanity home while pulling straight A’s in school, overcame personal fears to be the first of his peers to achieve Eagle rank and was the first to hike into the crater at Mt. Rainier during a 2008 high adventure.

His younger brother, Robert, was cited by his former Scoutmaster Jeff Brimhall for his steady pace toward Eagle and his perfect attendance and “never quit” attitude.

The Bennett boys follow their father, Kerry, himself an Eagle Scout, who proudly placed their Eagle Scout scarves on their shoulders.

Derek Peterson was recognized for his personal strength and a great sense of humor. His mother noted his quiet service to the widows and single women of the church. His proud grandfather, Garth Peterson, in uniform displaying the Silver Beaver award earned during his 60 years of Scouting said, “Derek is the first Eagle in the family.”

Gunn noted that LDS congregations sponsor young men’s programs and wherever Scouting is available it becomes the activity arm with Cub, Boy Scout, and Explorer units which are open to all in the community.

Sixteen Eagle Scouts in the Eagles Nest were at the event, from youth to Frank Mapes, age 84.

The ceremonies were filmed for the boys’ former Scout Leader, Nathan Howard, who is currently serving in Iraq.

Hugh McMillan is a longtime freelance writer for The Peninsula Gateway. He can be reached at 253-884-3319 or by e-mail at hmcmnp1000@centurytel.net.