North Anson teen receives Eagle rank

Devyn Deleonardis, right, pins a mentor pin on his assistant Scoutmaster, Skip Pond. Submitted photo

Devyn Deleonardis received his Eagle Scout rank, Scouting’s highest, at the First Congregational Church of North Anson Dec. 16.

The son of Frederick and Amanda Deleonardis, he lives in North Anson, where he attends Carrabec High School. He will turn 18 in January and become an adult leader with Troop 481.

Amanda Deleonardis pins the Eagle Scout medal on her son’s uniform. Submitted photo

As part of his Eagle Scout project, Deleonardis led others in building and distributing little lending libraries to five area communities. In Scout Troop 481, he served as senior patrol leader and chaplain, according to a news release from Chuck Mahaleris, district chairman for the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting.

“Some ways that I have demonstrated leadership skills other than my Eagle project, community libraries, are when I taught the clove hitch knot to guests at the Community Literacy event; helped Solon Elementary School’s field day event by teaching the students a game and led them through it as they played; and when I wrote and gave a speech for the position of Student Council member,” said Devyn.

During the ceremony, Deleonardis presented mentor pins to two of his Scout leaders, his parents and to Pastor Dave Walz.

Deleonardis received congratulatory notes from the members of Maine’s congressional delegation, state Rep. Larry Dunphy and the Boy Scouts of America. Alfred McKay, commander of the American Legion Department of Maine, presented Deleonardis with an actual eagle feather. The Legion had to receive official permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to present the feather, since the eagle is a protected species.

Deleonardis plans to attend the University of Maine Farmington next fall and study education.