Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Monday, February 8, 2010 2:43 pm

Scoutmaster Bob Martin

Living the Boy Scout oath of honor has been a way of life for Scoutmaster Bob Martin of Troop 320 for the past 13 years.

Troop 320, sponsored by the Rockvale Ruritan Club, produced 15 Eagle Scouts with several more scouts on the path to Eagle Scout, Martin said.

Scouts read the last letter to Scouts from founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell, who died in 1941.

“I’m just so proud” of the scouts and their accomplishments, Martin said while recalling some of his favorite memories during the celebration of Boy Scouts’ 100th Birthday Saturday at the Rockvale Community Center.

One memory occurred when William Groce, now an Iraq war veteran, vowed he could eat a whole watermelon during summer camp.

“The watermelon was bigger than he was,” Martin said. “He ate every bite.”

His son, Rob, remembered how his best friend in scouting, Jimmy Patterson, had problems with his left leg while participating in activities such as canoeing.

Other speakers talked about cooking over fires and getting stuck in mud holes.

Scout Jagur Klemann, 16, who is working on his Eagle rank, said the troop now has about 20 active scouts. They thanked the Ruritan Club for their sponsorship.