Sam Bowers

With a group of more than 100 in attendance at his Court of Honor, Samuel Bowers was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in Scouts BSA on Aug. 14. Samuel is a member of Boy Scout Troop 267 of Fredonia, and is the son of Ron and Marianne Bowers of Sheridan.

He passed his Board of Review on June 27, his official Eagle Scout date. He accomplished this goal at just 13 years old, significantly younger than the average Eagle Scout.

The Eagle Rank award is a performance-based achievement whose standards have been well-maintained by the Boy Scouts of America over the years. Only about 4% of all Scouts are granted this rank.

The ceremony was held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church hall in Silver Creek. Scoutmaster Jim Stenger presented the award, while Troop 267 Committee Chair Dr. Cynthia Smith served as Master of Ceremonies. Senior Patrol Leader Cooper Stenger, Assistant Scoutmaster Brian Noody, and fellow Scouts assisted throughout the ceremony. Eagle Scout Joseph Bowers, Samuel’s brother, delivered the Eagle Charge.

Samuel was graced by the attendance of many special guests, and was honored through speeches given by Assemblyman Andy Goodell, Chautauqua County American Legion Scouting Chair Jay McManus, Silver Creek Mayor Jeffrey Hornburg, Fredonia Mayor Doug Essek, and Eagle Project Beneficiaries of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Rev. Daniel Fiebelkorn and Rev. Mark Wolski. In fact, Mayor Hornburg officially declared Aug. 14 as Samuel Ronald Bowers Day in the Village of Silver Creek.

Eagle Scout Bowers himself recognized his Uncle Frank Pagano with the Mentor pin; as well as his mother with a miniature Eagle Pin, and his father with the Lapel pin.

Among the many requirements necessary to achieve Eagle Scout rank, one of the most notable is the Eagle Scout Project. The Scout must develop, fund, and manage a service project to benefit the community. Samuel’s Eagle Project was a complete renovation of the Funeral Chapel at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery.

The project was a major undertaking, inspired by a very personal experience after the death of his grandfather. The project took about one year to complete, and was put into service for the first time after the passing of his grandmother. Samuel was able to accomplish this meaningful project through the very generous donations of parishioners, community members, and businesses. He was assisted in design and installation by his Uncle Frank Pagano, Uncle Mike Pagano, Uncle Louis Pagano, his father, and other family members, scouts, and friends. The renovation included new walls, flooring, landscaping, seating, interior decorating, building repairs, and the addition of heat and electricity. The project was graciously and enthusiastically supported by the church parishioners.

Bowers is also a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s national honor society, as well as a National Youth Leadership Training graduate. Bowers was elected and served as Senior Patrol Leader of his Troop, and was recently awarded the Chautauqua County American Legion Boy Scout of the Year in June 2022. He participates in monthly camping trips to various locations including Camp Merz, Camp Gross, Elk Lick, Pa.; Woodstock, Ontario; Angelica, NY, Ovid, NY; and attends summer camps at Camp Merz as well as Camp Pioneer in the Adirondacks.

Eagle Scout Bowers is an honor student attending Silver Creek Central School. He is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and is a recent recipient of the Office of the state Comptroller Achievement Award, as well as the Office of the NYS Attorney General Triple C Award for Courage, Commitment, and Character.