PARSIPPANY — Currently Troop 72 and Crew 890 have over 30 members of the Order of the Arrow (OA). The OA is considered to be the honor society of scouting. One of the main purposes of the OA is to promote “cheerful service to others”. Recently the local lodge had a day of service, where five communities were selected as worksites. Members of the group worked to help restore and clear trails in Mountain Way Park in Parsippany, a site selected by OA members in their Troop.
There are three levels of membership in the OA, called honors, the first two are Ordeal and Brotherhood. Ordeal members are elected by members of a Troop or Crew, and attend a fellowship weekend as an Ordeal Candidate. Once thru that weekend they continue the journey to Brotherhood. To become a Brotherhood Honor member the scout or leader must continue in service for ten months, and fulfill the Brotherhood requirements.
The third and highest level is the Vigil Honor. After two years of service a Brotherhood member can be recognized with the Vigil Honor. An OA Lodge is limited to one person per 50 members registered to elevate to the Vigil Honor. Due to the high standards and service many Lodges recognize far less than what is allowed. The BSA Order of the Arrow page describes the Vigil Honor as follows.
The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for service to lodge, council, and Scouting. Membership cannot be won by a person’s conscious endeavors.
The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position of office to one or more of the following:
- Lodge
- Order of the Arrow
- Scouting community
- Scout Camp
The members of Scouts BSA Troop 72 and Crew 890 are all members of the Scouting Family atmosphere at Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany. Keeping with that family theme, the four members elevated to the Vigil Honor at the recent OA fellowship weekend were guided by family. Each Vigil Honor member is guided thru the process by a current Vigil Honor member. The 2019 Vigil Honor members (standing) and their guides (Kneeling) are as follows left to right. Joshua Knowle with his father Ron Knowle (Vigil 2018), Jessica Iannetta with her fiancé Nick Corrente (Vigil 2015), Keith Hawkins Sr. with his son Keith Hawkins Jr. (Vigil 2018) and Matthew Sonzogni with his father Adam Sonzogni (Vigil 2017).
Scouts BSA Boy Troop 72 and Scouts BSA Girl Troop 72 serve the Youth of Parsippany and surrounding areas ages 11-17. Crew 890 serves youth ages 14-20. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Thru the mission, service, leadership and a strong outdoor program, the youth led Troops 72 and Crew 890 are preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
