Early photos from the WWII Memorial Dedication.

A few early pictures from the rededication of the WWII memorial in Columbian Square, which was rehabilitated by Matt Walsh for his Eagle Project.

Scouts shared pizza at Mr Kelleys, followed by the dedication, where our scouts served as the honor guard with flags and the drum corps performed.

More pictures will be posted when available. Thanks to all who attended.

Michael Blanchard, former member of Troop 2, passed away today.

Troop 2 sadly notes the passing of a former member, Michael Blanchard, who was in the Troop in the 1970's along with his brother Jay. His obituary is below.




BLANCHARD, Michael J. Passed away at his Weymouth home Oct. 28, 2010 at the age of 51. Michael was a lifetime Weymouth resident. He was a 1977 graduate of Weymouth High Vocational School. Michael was a licensed refrigeration technician & owner of Blanchard Refigeration Co. (which his father, John started) from 1980-2000. Most recently he was employed by L.C. Anderson,Inc. of Boston. Late member of R.S.E.S. He was a former member of Boy Scout Troop #2. Michael enjoyed time in New Hampshire with his family, participating in hockey, fishing, kayaking, & both water & snow skiing. Beloved husband of Joanne G. (Parsley) Blanchard. Father of Michael J. Jr., Maddy & Catherine all of Weymouth. Son of John & Gladys "Mrs.B" Blanchard of Weymouth. Brother of Deby Fisher of Lakeville, Michelle Paradiso of Rochestor,N.H., Holly Almquist of Duxbury & Jay Blanchard of Hingham. Son-in-law of William & Carol Parsley of Braintree. Funeral from the SOUTH WEYMOUTH McDonald Funeral Home, 809 Main St. (Rt.18 opp. South Shore Hospital) Monday at 8:30 A.M., followed by a Funeral Mass in the Sacred Heart Church at 9:30. Relatives & friends invited. Visiting hours Sunday 12:00 Noon-4:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Crohn's & Colitis Foundation National Processing Center, Att'n. Honor & Memorial Gifts, P.O. Box 1245, Albert Lea, MN. 56007-9976. McDonald-funeralhomes.com

Matthew Walsh - In the News

From the Weymouth News:

Eagle Scout project restores WWII Veterans’ Memorial in Weymouth

Weymouth — Matthew Walsh of Troop 2 looked at many different opportunities for his Eagle Scout project, but after meeting with Frank Burke of the Veterans Administration at the site of the South Weymouth World War II Veterans’ Memorial on the corner of Pleasant and Columbian Street next to the Fogg Library, he knew that this was what he wanted to work on and complete for his Eagle Scout requirements.

The Veterans Council is scheduled to have a rededication ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. at the memorial site.

When Matthew, 14, first went to the memorial to see what restorations were needed, he felt that these men gave their lives for our freedom and weren’t being properly honored or given due respect for their sacrifice since the monument was covered by overgrown shrubs and could not be seen.

Matthew started his quest by planning and designing exactly what he wanted the final outcome of his labors to reflect. Once he completed this process, he ventured out and did some price checking and comparing to see exactly how much money he would need to raise in order to complete all the improvements he planned on making to the site.

Matthew started his fundraising by having a yard sale with items donated by members of his troop and community. With the anticipation of the project costing more than Matthew raised at his yard sale, he then went from door to door to the local businesses in Columbian Square, explaining his purpose for seeking monetary donations.

He recruited a work crew of Scouts from Troop 2, local businessmen, and adults of the community to clean and re-grout the memorial stone, build a brick pathway with pavers engraved with each branch of the military’s insignia, install new hardware for the flagpole, install granite benches, design and construct flower beds, and plant flowers.

Matthew also had his crew of volunteers complete some extras as he had them sand and varnish the existing wooded benches and rake, landscape, and clean the adjacent area.

Matthew said that his project taught him how to delegate responsibility and become a better leader, lessons that he will use for the rest of his life. He also realized the importance of teamwork and how anything is possible with the help of others.

Matthew was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support as every person he contacted went above and beyond for him, whether it was to volunteer time, donate equipment, give him a discount, or help him with instructions about how to properly get the job done.

In his years as a Cub Scout in Pack 73 and a Boy Scout in Troop 2, Matthew has learned the importance of leadership, service, and giving back to the community. He is currently a member of the senior patrol, a mentor for younger scouts, and a member of the drum corps.

A freshman at South Shore Christian Academy, Matthew plans to try out for the basketball and baseball teams.

An altar server for Immaculate Conception Church and a member of the Old South Union Youth Group, he enjoys skiing and playing golf in his free time.

Over the summer, Matthew plays baseball for Weymouth Babe Ruth and looks forward to his week of summer camp with Troop 2 at Cliff Island in Bristol, N. H.

Copyright 2010 Weymouth News. Some rights reserved

Eagle Project Dedication

On Sunday, October 31st at 1:00 there will be a re-dedication of the World War II Memorial in Columbian Square, which was recently restored by Eagle Scout Candidate Matt Walsh. There will be a Collation following the ceremony at the American Legion Post in South Weymouth on Randolph Street.

All Scouts are encouraged to attend, in full uniform. The Drum Corps will be performing (all Drummers must attend) and we will be meeting Mr. Kelley's house (at 44 Torrey Street) at 11:30 AM in full uniform for lunch, and afterward will set up with drums, cymbals, and banners.

We'll also need volunteer scouts to carry flags and banners, and to participate in the ceremony.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Chase.

Halloween Party Recap

The Troop celebrated Halloween with costumes, refreshments, and great feats of prowess like dunking for apples and donut on a string!....At the end of the meeting numerous merit badges were awarded, including Communications and several remaining badges from Camp 2010. Finally, we awarded Bill M with his Eagle badge, which he earned recently. It was a fun evening, and most scouts came in costume. Selections are below:

Drum Corps practices and events

The drum corps has two upcoming events

- Oct 31st - Dedication of Matt Walsh Eagle Project - details to be announced.
- Nov 11th - Weymouth Veterans Day Parade

Please note we also have two mandatory practices that all drummers are expected to attend.

Monday, 11/1 from 6:30-7:30
Sunday, 11/7 from 6:30-7:30

Troop 2 Halloween Party - Oct 25th, WHC

The Troop 2 annual Halloween party will be held this evening, October 25th, at the Weymouth Heights Club.


There will be no drum practice, and no uniforms are required.


Please wear a costume and participate in the party or please wear your Class B uniform (Troop shirt and scout pants).


Refreshments will be served.


The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 PM.

October campout and Drum Corps BBQ

Today was a great day at Valley Pines - cool air, bright sun, and a drum corps reward! The adults, led by Mr Cowles, prepared various foods for the drummers to sample, which were shared with the rest of the gang afterward. This included fire roasted Nachos with cheese, chicken noodle soup, quesadillas with chicken and with ground beef, and the big finale, slow roasted and smoked pork ribs and slow cooked baked beans. This was followed by dessert, which included vanilla cake and camp made chocolate mousse with whipped cream, and some early Halloween candy.

The scouts are heading to bed soon, and will sleep well this evening.

Some action photos below:






More pictures after the break . . .

Troop 2 Ski Trip - Reminder, payment is due 11/1

Remider - Troop 2 Ski Trip - payment is due by November 1st.

Event: Ski Trip to Shawnee Peak
When: January 7-9th
Where: Shawnee Peak, Maine

Payment info:
Cost: $135.00 per scout (includes food, lodging, lift tickets and rentals) – check payable to Troop 2 BSA

Due by November 1st


Details:
Please join us for the annual Troop 2 Ski Trip to Shawnee Peak, Maine. This event is loads of fun, and is well attended. We stay in a single lodge, with scouts located on two floors and adults on the ground floor. Adults are present at the mountain and in the chalet throughout the day. Many adults also ski and are on the slopes with the scouts.

Our accommodations are within walking distance of the mountain, and we also shuttle the scouts to the base on a regular schedule.

Lodging, lift tickets, and rentals are included in the event. Scouts can earn the Snow Sports merit badge, as well we learning to ski and snowboard.

We stay right on the property of Shawnee Peak, at the Shawnee Peak House, a 10-bedroom self-service guesthouse. Each room features a private bath. The common area offers a fully-equipped kitchen, double fireplace, games, coin-operated Bumper pool table, cable TV, DVD player, phone and WIFI. The Peak House also gives you close proximity to Shawnee Peak's vast ski trail network.

For information on the mountain, review their website at http://www.shawneepeak.com.

October Campout - 10/23-10/24

A few reminders for the campout this weekend:


On this campout we are planning to cook a variety of foods for dinner to reward the Drum Corps for their efforts over the past year.

All scouts (including members of the Drum Corps) should plan to prepare their lunch. Members of the Drum Corps do not need to bring dinner. All other scouts must prepare their own dinner.

This means they must bring their own food, as well as a pot to cook in, utensils for cooking, pot holders, and something to eat with. Clean up materials are also required.

For lunch a simple sandwich is okay, although we encourage scouts to cook their meals over an open fire or on a camping cook stove.

Group or patrol cooking is encouraged, but formal planning and execution is left to the scouts.

Scouts must also bring their own water, sufficient to last the weekend.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Kelley.

2010 Veterans Day Parade

Reminder - Veterans Day Parade on Thursday 11/11 at 9 AM

What: Veterans Day Parade
When: November 11th, 2010, 9 AM to 11 AM
Details: All scouts are expected to march with the troop in the annual Veterans Day parade. If your son is unable to march, please let Mr. Kelley know in advance so we can plan accordingly.

We will meet at Brady’s Package Store parking lot opposite the CVS at 9:00 AM to issue gear and prepare for the parade.

Please assemble in FULL uniform with comfortable shoes. Wear a warm undershirt if possible.

Please do not wear your sash.

Parents, please pick up your son promptly after the parade at Abigail Adams Middle School.

We typically march behind the school and remove our gear. Your best bet might be to park on Academy Avenue, or at the Academy Avenue school and walk up to the middle school to meet your son.

The parade typically ends at 11 AM when the observences begin at Town Hall on the memorial green.

We will be wearing the following troop gear, which must be returned by your son at the end of the parade to the troop leaders.

All scouts will carry a flag, a banner, or perform with the drum corps.

Campaign hat
White leggings
Red wool coat (weather dependant)

Flag Retirement Ceremony & Turkey Dinner

What: Flag Retirement Ceremony & Turkey Dinner

Date: Saturday, November 13, 2010

Place: Valley Pines Campground, 505 Grove Street, Norwell

Hosted By: Troop 2 Weymouth
Sponsored by: The Weymouth Heights Club


Schedule of Events

12:00 PM: Start time
1:00 PM: Turkey Dinner
2:00 PM: Flag Retirement Ceremony - Jim Kelly, Troop 2 Scoutmaster

Note:

Scouts MUST wear their uniforms for the ceremony, and can change into street clothes afterward.
Bring your own chair
Parking is limited, please carpool if possible
Please feel free to bring non-alcoholic beverages

Next Round of Photos - 2007

See if you can pick out the Senior Patrol Leader and his assistants in these photos...It's hard to believe these guys are all High Schoolers now!

Here's another batch of photos from our archive.

These are all pictures of our recent Eagle Scouts and members of our Senior Patrol during their first years in Troop 2.

See if you can guess who each of these youngsters is in these shots.

Baseball Caps

Keep an eye on your mailbox...thanks to the keen eyes of our Thursday night bottle & can sort team, and donations from Mr. Cowles golfing crew we were able to save a mound of Pepsi caps for the recent "Caps for Caps" promotion.

A genuine regulation Boston Red Sox cap should be arriving in the very near future in your mailbox.

Please let Mr. Chase know if you do not receive your hat in October.

North Weymouth Bottles and Can Box

BEFORE

As you can see from this picture, recently a thoughtful individual added a personal touch to our redemption box at the fire station in North Weymouth.

This box was recently repainted by James A as part of his community service for Citizenship in the Community.

If you notice any new artworks on the redemption boxes, or any damages, please let Mr. Chase know so we can clean or fix the boxes.

AFTER - graffiti painted over

These boxes are one of many faces that the Troop shows to our community. Please help us keep them presentable.

Happy Birthday Nate

More pictures from the Bike Trip

Lots more after the break . . .

Bike Trip Pictures

Thanks to Mr Kelley, Mr B Chase, Mr D Chase, Mr Cowles, Mr JeanJaquet, Mr Keenan, Mr Lantz, Mr Macallum, Mr McCabe, Mr Wallace.

Local company helps Troop 2

Troop 2 would like to extend thanks to Molisse Realty for helping us out.  As you probably know, we support our Troop and the Weymouth Heights Club through our bottle and can program.  Molisse Realty generously let us use their moving truck to make a large delivery to one of the distributors we deal with.  Thanks!

Congratulations to Bill Mullen for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout

Congratulations to Bill Mullen, who passed his board of review and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout on Thursday, October 7th. Billy joins over 200 Eagle scouts from Troop 2. He is a senior at Weymouth High School, and for his project he repaired, cleaned, and repainted the Little League field building and environs behind Allerton House in East Weymouth.

At left are two historic (or hysteric) photos of Bill from his first years in Troop 2.

Troop 2 through the years....adults as scouts....

As you know, Troop 2 has a long history - we'll be celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2011. During this time, many scouts have passed through the troop, enjoying the camraderie and fellowship scouting represents, and some have come back to help out as adults.

See if you can guess who some of these scouts are from random photos from our archives...they're all familiar faces that are part of the program today!



This high flier pilots much larger equipment now....




This scout gesturing with a stick at Valley Pines is often found in the garage.




This canoe tripper is still a fan of hamburgers




This techno-savvy scout is responsible for bringing the BLOG to life!





This gentleman has been a member of the troop for more years than we can calculate, and still helps out at camp. He taught many of the scouts how to swim there.




This scout was also a waterfront director at camp, taught many of us to waterski, and will no doubt be riding his bike this weekend at the front of the troop!



This old man is much older now... and still going strong. His brother is also active in the troop.





This PFD wearing scout went on to run our waterfront for many years at Cliff Island





Canoe rock has never been the same since this scout occupied it for a picture in the late 1970's....



This scout is a tremendous help with our Eagle scout program.





This gem includes two of our adult volunteers, one pensively looking at the sand on the beach while the other sports plaid swim trunks....





This same pensive adult is seen in the photo above, along with another adult seen in a previous shot, enjoying a swim on a canoe trip in the early 1980's.

Keep an eye out here for more pictures - thousands have been scanned from our collection, with the remainder in progress. The next batch may include some of our current "older" scouts in their early scouting days.....