State officials attend Weyauwega ceremony
By Angie Landsverk
Andrew Looker is the 21st Eagle Scout from Weyauwega-Fremont Boy Scout Troop 621.
“It feels really good to achieve it,” he said.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts program, and Looker earned the rank last Oct. 29.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his family waited to hold the ceremony until this spring, so it would be safer for people to attend it.
Looker’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony took place on May 22, in the Weyauwega-Fremont High School Performing Arts Center.
Family, friends and troop leaders were among those who celebrated the achievement with him.
The last time a troop member achieved the rank was in 2008.
Twenty-one merit badges are required to achieve the rank.
Looker earned 33 merit badges, which resulted in him being awarded bronze and gold palms.
Above and beyond
State Rep. Kevin Petersen said Looker is the 48th Eagle Scout he recognized and the first to have earned two palms.
“Andrew went above and beyond,” he said of Looker’s attainment of the rank.
Petersen and State Sen. Joan Ballweg celebrated Looker’s achievement by presenting a plaque to him.
Prior to the presentation, Ballweg acknowledged Looker’s parents Matt and Rebecca Looker, as well as his troop leaders and fellow troop members who made him “the young man he is today.”
Scoutmaster DeAnna Volz said it was a pleasure to see him join the elite Eagle Scouts.
Howard Quimby was the only other Eagle Scout in attendance for the ceremony.
He achieved the rank in 1956.
Quimby, the Troop Committee’s chairperson, told Looker to remember that “when you become an Eagle, you are always an Eagle.”
He told Looker to lead by example and dedicate his skills and abilities to the common good.
“I charge you to understand your citizenship with solid dedication,” Quimby said.
Looker’s mother presented the Eagle Award to him.
He then presented pins to both his mother and father.
The ceremony also included gifts to Looker from the troop and the president of Weyauwega Scouting Inc.
Eagle project
Looker’s Eagle Service Project involved him working with the Fremont Lakeside Cemetery Board to restore and relocate the cemetery’s sign.
The cemetery’s old metal sign was removed.
Some parts of the sign were salvaged, with the paint and rust removed.
Other parts were acquired before the sign was reassembled, primed and painted.
The sign was installed, with landscaping and paving blocks added as well.
Ninety-four hours were logged for the project.