On the back of one of
the photos from that day it said April 1972. It must have been a warm day in
April. Bob Mahon and Mike Murray were 15 already; Mike Troy and I would be 15
that summer.
Bob Mahon, Mike Murray and Mike Troy were helping me with my Eagle Scout
project. My dad was there too, mostly likely behind the camera. Us four guys
were planting hedges on the grounds of Rockland State Hospital. My dad spent
most of the day in one of the dorms drawing Peanuts cartoons on the walls. (Bob
said the hedge grew pretty tall, but I didn't ask him why he was down there.)
We were four key members of the Beaver Patrol - Boy Scout Troop #4. My dad
called us F-Troop rather than the Beaver Patrol. If there was fun to be had, we
had it. If mischief was necessary to break the tension, we were the boys to
provide it. Despite the fun and mischief, we did some good work. We were good
citizens and good scouts. With Leaders like Bud Cole and John Wilson - former
soldiers - we were well trained and well prepared.
I never did get my Eagle Scout badge. Seems I had only gotten a verbal approval
on the project and failed to submit the necessary paperwork. That was one of my
big lessons in life.
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