We can’t take credit for Ben Cutler’s achievement. But like many folks in Morristown, we take pride in it.
Ben, who has helped MorristownGreen.com on many video projects over the years, was honored at Tuesday’s council meeting for earning the rank of Eagle, one of Scouting’s highest honors.
“You have your whole life ahead of you, and already you’re a success. Keep up the hard work,” Mayor Tim Dougherty told him, after reciting a proclamation with an enviable list of accomplishments.
For his Eagle project, Ben coordinated 100 hours of volunteer work beneath the Great Hall of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, refurbishing restrooms and building a door to hide an unsightly water heater.
“He did one of the hardest jobs, and it meant a great deal to all of us,” said Rector Janet Broderick of St. Peter’s.
Ben’s efforts have made a difference for visitors to the weekend soup kitchen, she said.
“He scraped and cleaned and painted the restrooms, which the Saturday lunch guests use. It was a dark and unfriendly restroom area and he made it bright and clean. It shows how much we care. I think it was particularly wonderful because it’s not a thing many people see. It’s not showy. But it matters,” the priest said.
Ben has sung in the boys choir at St. Peter’s, and traveled on summer mission trips to renovate homes of elderly residents in Topsail, N.C.
Summer camps, the Community Soup Kitchen, Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, the Morristown Performing Arts Center … he’s volunteered with them all.
At Morristown High School he deejayed at WJSV-FM. And though he is mild-mannered, it’s probably unwise to cross him…he lettered in fencing.
Here at MG, we engage in WordPlay, not swordplay. Ben cheerfully manned the camera at our poetry nights and other special events.
As a freshman at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, Ben is studying physics and politics. (Need an intern, Congressman Holt? ) He followed older brothers Peter and Silas to the rank of Eagle Scout.
“I knew if I didn’t do it, my brothers would never forgive me,” Ben said of his Scouting career.
Smart move. Congratulations, Ben.
Congrats, Ben!