Nearly 150 people gathered at Juliano’s in New Rochelle on Saturday, April 2 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Pelham Troop 1, Boy Scouts of America. The dinner celebration also honored the troop’s scoutmaster, Ralph Mirra, who is moving into a new position after 18 years of service as Troop 1 Scoutmaster.
Pelham Town Supervisor Peter D. DiPaola presented a Town Proclamation honoring the troop and announced a decision by the Town Council to plant a tree with a commemorative tablet to honor Scoutmaster Mirra and his service to Troop 1. State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and County Legislator Jim Maisano also presented proclamations to honor the troop and recognize its centennial.
In addition, Vincent Cartelli, a member of the board and past Commander of Pelham Post 50, American Legion Department of New York, presented a certificate on behalf of Post 50 to the troop in recognition of its centennial. Representatives of the Boy Scouts of America Westchester-Putnam Council headquartered in Hawthorne, NY, along with Assistant Scout Master Bill Hopkins, presented the troop with certificates to commemorate the event. During the celebration, the troop also displayed a commemorative centennial plaque awarded earlier this year by The Community Church of the Pelhams which supports the troop, serves as its chartering organization, and hosts the troop’s regular Thursday evening meetings.
Rev. Noel D. Vanek of The Community Church of the Pelhams delivered the invocation as well as congratulatory remarks. Other speakers included: Scoutmaster Mirra who spoke of the troop’s last two decades of activities; John Heins who spoke as a scouting father and active troop photographer; Town Historian Blake Bell who spoke on the history of scouting in the Town of Pelham and the history of Troop 1; Eagle Scout Brett Bell who spoke of notable events during his time with the troop; Life Scout Michael Pachuta who spoke humorously of a memorable canoeing trip; and Scout Dad Chris Michailoff who announced that in connection with the celebration, the troop had raised a fund to donate to the Library of the Town of Pelham to celebrate the troop’s centennial.
Current Scouts presented an entertaining skit that parodied their Scoutmaster and fellow Scouts based on recent whitewater rafting outings. The Scouts also honored Susan Cartelli and Robyn TenEyck for their unceasing work for the troop. They also honored Scoutmaster Mirra, who has guided 26 Scouts to the rank of Eagle Scout during his 18-year tenure, by presenting him with the gift of a bronze eagle sculpture. A video that included many images of members of the troop and their activities thrilled the gathering.
The troop honored the many adult leaders who have supported the Scouts during the last 20 years including, among many others, Assistant Scoutmasters Bill Hopkins, Jamie Hupprich, Jack Cardwell, and Jack McGuirk; Troop 1 Committee Chair Prudy Lenhard; Troop 1 Committee members Michael Mirra, Susan Cartelli, Robin TenEyck, and Glenn Koniuk; and Chartering Organization representatives Reverend Noel D. Vanek and Barbara Scharrer.
As high adventure Pelham Troop 1 enters its second century, it welcomes all boys between the age of 11 (or who have completed the fifth grade while ten years old) and the age of 18. It welcomes those who want to challenge and better themselves while enjoying the scouting journey. It welcomes those who crave adventure. It also welcomes those who, according to the Scout Oath promise to “help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
Founded in early 1916, Pelham Troop 1 has operated on a continuous basis ever since. Today it is a “high adventure troop,” the members of which pursue activities including scuba diving in Key West, white water rafting and kayaking, ice climbing, rock climbing, snow-shoeing, dog sledding, horseback riding, zip-lining, orienteering, high-country survival training, hiking and camping in the mountains of Philmont National Scout Ranch, and other scouting activities including hiking and camping at places like Camp Read in the Adirondacks and Durland Scout Reservation in Putnam Country.
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