Cabrera and Smith earn Eagle Scout rank

Don Marshall Davis Cabrera and Harrison Matthew Smith, both 17 years old, from CNMI Boy Scout Troop 913, have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and a Court of Honor will be held for them on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The public is invited to attend the ceremony.

To be a Boy Scout, one is required to attend campouts, earn merit badges, and demonstrate specific skills that are physically and mentally challenging. Prior to earning the rank of Eagle, scouts have the opportunity to learn and master many skills. They’ve hikes and camped in good and not-so-good weather, and they’ve learned to take care of themselves and others in the outdoors as well as in their community. Becoming an Eagle requires that they master yet another set of skills. One of these skills is their demonstration of leadership. An Eagle Scout candidate is asked to plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project that is helpful to a religious institution, school, or the community. As a result of these demanding requirements, less than 5 percent of scouts worldwide attain this goal.

Cabrera, son of Joseph C. Cabrera and Shawn Davis, accomplished the rehabilitation of Unai Dangkulu, a historical site adjacent to the Coral Ocean Point golf course. Included in the project was bush cutting, chopping any unnecessary trees, trimming tree branches, clearing the top of the bunker/pillbox of grass and overgrowth, clearing the steps down to the beach, and cleaning up of all debris. Cabrera’s project took volunteers three full days in April to complete.

“Don successfully completed a very dignified project since it involved the restoration of a historical site,” said former CNMI Boy Scouts island director Cal Reyes, in April at the time of the project. “He served not only as a good example for his fellow scouts in Troop 913 to preserve and restore historical sites but also to the entire community.”

Smith, son of F. Matthew and Christina Smith, orchestrated an environmental mural painted on the tennis practice wall of the American Memorial Park. Smith said it took 26 volunteers about a week to complete the mural. Two gallons of primer, two gallons of sealant, and 38 quarts of paint were used to complete the project. Volunteers, including Smith’s art teacher, power washed the wall, primed it, blocked in the mural, added the outlines, painted the underwater image, and then sealed the wall.

In June, at the time of the presentation of the completed mural, American Memorial Park ranger Nancy Kelchner said the project turned out to be an excellent educational tool.

“Not only has a student and boy scout originated the idea but he also planned the project and made sure that the project came to fruition. That’s a lot for a teenager. It goes to show that young folks have great potential. Their ideas shouldn’t be discounted by adults. They should be heard,” she said.

Both Cabrera and Smith were born on Saipan and began their scouting careers with Cub Scout Pack 913 at the age of 8 where they earned the Arrow of Light, the highest award given to a Cub Scout. At 11 years they advanced into the Boy Scout program and have been working toward their Eagle advancement for six years.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony of Honor and all Eagle Scouts residing in the CNMI are especially invited to attend this Court of Honor.

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[B]ATTENTION ALL EAGLE SCOUTS[/B] Please join Troop 913’s Eagle Nest
on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 7pm
at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints