INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been a long and winding road for New Palestine resident and Our Lady of Lourdes Troop 8 member Vincent Johnson-Horan, but he can finally say that he is an Eagle Scout.
“There were times when I wasn’t sure if I could make it, but I was thrilled to achieve this very special rank on December 9, which happened to be my 18th birthday,” he said.
Johnson-Horan, who is a senior at Indiana Connections Academy and the son of author Julie Young, has been involved in Scouting since he was in first grade at Little Flower Catholic School. He was a member of Pack 126 and then crossed over to Troop 8 where he served as a Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, historian and held several other leadership positions. He earned 28 merit badges including carpentry, which was brought back for one year in celebration of the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th anniversary as well as fingerprinting, medicine, the required Eagle Scout merit badges and his favorite, genealogy.
“I really liked going down to the Indiana History Center and learning more about my family tree,” he said. “I discovered that I have an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War.”
For his Eagle Project, Johnson-Horan worked with the USO to create and send 70 care packages to US troops overseas. The packages contained tissues, snacks, books, comic books and cards for men and women in all branches of the armed forces.
“The hardest part about the project was raising the money to pay for postage and getting large donations of items. Each box cost nearly $13 to mail so I set up a GoFundMe account and raised almost $1200,” he said. “I am really proud to have sent the boxes and I know that our troops appreciate surprises from home. Being an Eagle Scout is something that every boy in scouting hopes to achieve but only four percent actually make it. I am glad that I am one of them.”
Johnson-Horan will commemorate his accomplishment with an Eagle Court of Honor at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in the next few weeks.
