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Brennan Eaheart nearing completion of Eagle Scout rank

Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior Brennan Eaheart has done the major tasks to win the scouting rank of Eagle Scout, and evidence is in the St. Joseph Parish garden adjacent to Dixie Highway.

Eagle Scout project volunteers, from left, Kevin Berner, Matt Joy, Dave Winicky and Jackson Grage are busy laying mulch in one of the gardens at St. Joseph Parish. (Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)

Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior Brennan Eaheart has done the major tasks to win the scouting rank of Eagle Scout.

Brennan has been in scouting since his days as a Cub Scout starting in third grade. He has moved up each year taking on more responsibility. To be eligible for Eagle Scout, he had to complete 21 merit badges, demonstrate his Scout Spirit and take a leadership position within the troop.

Owen Eaheart, with a wheelbarrow full of mulch, gets ready to start work on the Dixie Highway garden. (Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)

Scouts can work on the Eagle Scout project before their 18th birthday. Brennan, 17, is the son of Brian and Carla Eaheart of Homewood.

Brennan, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Homewood, approached church members about his interest in doing his Eagle Scout project to benefit the church. He was put in touch with Pastor Bob Kyfes and Elaine Hoffman, chair of the parish beautification committee, who said tackling the parish gardens is a big project. Hoffman and her team have been able to manage the garden around the church, and they asked Brennan to consider helping with the other gardens that line Dixie Highway and are around the former school building.

Before he could start, Brennan had to get his project approved by the scoutmaster for Troop 342. Bob Solorio, one of the troop leaders, served as Brennan’s Eagle Scout project coach. He helped supervise Brennan’s work on a written proposal that spelled out the project, approximate time it would take to complete, costs and how he’d raise the $500 he estimated he’d need. 

Brennan did his own fundraising, got a team of 16 volunteers, and ordered 800 pounds of black dirt to fill in the gardens, and 20 cubic yards of mulch. His mom allowed him to raid the family’s garden for the 50 hosta plants he needed.

On the first day in mid-July volunteers weeded and then filled in the flower beds with the dirt in preparation for the second day’s work a week later planting the hostas and giving the flower beds plenty of mulch. 

Working with him were, Kevin Berner, Delaney Eaheart, Owen Eaheart, Jacob Harris, Andrew Gaughan, Jackson Grage, Matthew Joy, Duffy Karstrom and Aaron McIntyre.

With the work done, the pastor and beautification committee chair signed off on the work. Now Brennan goes back to his scoutmaster and the district council for their review and approval. At the end of the process, he will have earned the Eagle Scout rank.

Brennan admits scouting didn’t get his full attention now that he’s active in the H-F Marching Band, Jazz Band and Symphonic Band as a trumpet player and as a member of the fencing club.

But earning the rank of Eagle Scout is still important and gives him “a chance to wrap up scouting in a good way,” he said.

Brennan Eaheart, left, his brother Owen, center and Eagle Scout Dave Winicky, get ready for the first day of work on the gardens at St. Joseph Parish in Homewood. (Provided photo)

 

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