Keeping his promise - Boy Scout raises money to replace three trees from his original project

Andrew Harnage's job was done and he had completed his project on his quest to earn the rank of Eagle - the highest award in scouting. He could have walked away and not looked back.
But the Boy Scout couldn't let that happen. After all, the first point of the Boy Scout Law is: "A Scout is trustworthy."

Back in January 2007, Harnage planted 25 High Tower Willow Oak trees and installed two benches at Graham Elementary School's Head Start playground. The drought this past summer killed some of the trees.

Harnage, a member of Troop 100 and a student at Shelby High School, decided to replace the trees. He went back out to the school March 8 to finish his project for a second time.

"In spite of my efforts to water trees on a weekly basis through the drought of 2007, three of my original trees died," Harnage said. "I thought it was important to replace these trees in order to consider my project complete."

In addition to planting the trees again, Harnage had to raise money to purchase the new trees.

"I sought out contributions from friends of scouting," he said. "I purchased the three replacement trees and planted them while still dormant."

Harnage earned his award April 1, and will receive his Eagle rank in a ceremony on May 30.

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