Aspiring Chef Is Newest Township Eagle Scout

Anthony Thompson is surrounded by his family Dec. 27 after his Eagle Scout Court of Honor at Somerset Presbyterian Church.

The township’s newest Eagle Scout is an 18-year-old aspiring chef who, as a child, believed he could fly.

Anthony Thompson was formally recognized as an Eagle Scout during his Eagle Scout Court of Honor Dec. 27 at Somerset Presbyterian Church, the sponsor of Troop 113, located on John F. Kennedy Boulevard.

The Court of Honor, steeped in tradition, is the ultimate recognition ceremony for a Boy Scout.

During the ceremony – which included readings, a slide show of Thompson’s history with the troop, and presentations to his parents – Thompson was seated in the church’s sanctuary, flanked by his mother, Arline, and father, Tony.

Arline Thompson was among those who paid tribute to her son’s accomplishments. She did so by telling friends and fellow scouts in attendance that, as a toddler, her “goofy little boy” thought he could fly.

“He got on top of everything and would jump off,” she said. “He really thought he could fly.”

“As your parents, we started you off on your path,” she told him. “These people around you helped keep you on the straight and narrow. You participated to the best of your ability. You’ve achieved all that you set goals for.”

You said you were going to be an eagle, and here we are,” she said. “You always knew that you could fly.”

“To say I’m proud is an understatement,” she said. “There are no words that could describe how I feel at this time. You just keep doing what you’re doing because it’s awesome.”

Noting that the troop is 50 years old, Tony Thompson said it’s members, and the “church family,” “have a lot to be proud of.”

“I’m proud to be a member of this church and I’m proud to be a member of this troop,” he said. “This troop is superb.”

“Thank you all for everything you’ve done, for everything you do and for everything you believe in,” he said.

Anthony Thompson thanked all of his troop leaders, his “church family,” and his parents. He also thanked those who helped him with his eagle project, which was the creation of benches in front of the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in the municipal complex.

“The two of you are the best parents I could have hoped for, and are the reason I am the person that I am,” he said.

After the ceremony, Thompson said the thing he will miss most about the scouts is meeting on Tuesday nights.

“We’d all hang out,” he said. “We’d learn new stuff and then go play games.”

A graduate of Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School, Thompson is now studying at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and hopes to be a chef.

Making Eagle Scout “feels like a weight’s lifted off my shoulder,” he said. “It feels great to have finally made it this far.”

Thompson said he knew he wanted to be an Eagle Scout very early in his scouting career.

“I decided years ago, when I was in 1st Grade,” he said.

2016 Anthony Thompson Eagle Scout

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