Gorham’s Troop 817 presented the Eagle Scout Rank to Aaron Jones at Cressey Road United Methodist Church on March 18. Jones is the son of Trevor and Carol Jones and is a freshman at Gorham High School.
The Eagle Scout rank is Boy Scouting’s highest honor, earned by only seven out of every 100 boys who enter the program. To earn the award, a scout must earn at least 21 merit badges, provide leadership to the other boys in his troop, and organize and lead others in a community service project.
For his Eagle Scout service project, Jones built a trail bridge over the outlet of a pond on Weeks Road. The trails in that area are used by Middle School classes, the Middle School and High School Cross Country teams, and numerous residents who walk, run and bike on the trails.
Photo courtesy of Trevor JonesAaron Jones stands atop the bridge he built on the trails off of Weeks Road, a popular spot for sports enthusiasts.
Jones organized the help of 14 volunteers who worked nearly 100 hours on the project and solicited donations of materials from area businesses, including Home Depot, which donated all of the lumber for the bridge, and R.J. Grondin & Sons, which donated gravel that Aaron used to create approach ramps and fill low spots on the trail near the bridge.
His achievement was recognized by many dignitaries including Senator Angus King, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, and State Senator Amy Volk, who hosted Jones and his family at the State House on January 31 and presented him with sentiments from the Maine Legislature and a flag flown over the State capitol in Augusta.
Jones is the fourth Eagle Scout in his family. Other recipients in the family include his great uncle Roland Blouin (1947), his father Trevor Jones (1987), and his older brother Collin Jones (2012).