Brian Holloway holds his Eagle Scout Certificate. The Eagle Scout Award is the highest youth honor in Boy Scouts. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

A Boy Scout Court of Honor was held Sunday afternoon in Leesburg for 18-year-old Brian J. Holloway, Leesburg. The Warsaw Community High School Junior received his Eagle Scout Award.

Holloway, son of Joe and Vanessa Holloway, is a member of Boy Scout Troop No. 729, Leesburg. He is the fifth Scout from the troop to receive the highest youth award in Boy Scouts.

His project was Waubee Park clean up. With the assistance of fellow troop members, his parents, family and other friends, the project began last summer and was completed in a month. The Eagle Scout Court of Review received his submission for the award just shy of his 18th birthday, the cutoff age for the award.

“I feel awesome,” stated Holloway on achieving the honor. At the close of the Court of Honor, he thanked everyone who helped him make the award possible. “I couldn’t do this without you.”

His Eagle Scout project came just at the deadline for the award. While he was looking for ideas, a friend of his mother’s operated the concession stand at Waubee Park, and stated it was in need of clean-up and someone was being sought to do the work. His project began. The project began Sept. 7 and was completed Nov. 25, after 170 hours of labor.

The work included repainting the concessions stand, work on the handicapped pavilion, basketball hoops and making new signs. Some minor repair work was also completed. Funds for the project were out of pocket.

Letters of congratulations were received from George and Barbara Bush, U.S. Representative Marlin Stutzman, a certificate of special recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives. State Rep. Curt Nisly attended the Court of Honor, congratulating Holloway stating “The state of Indiana and United States will be a better place because of the accomplishment and leadership you have shown up to this point. You have a bright future ahead.”

During the brief ceremony, his mother and father were both given Eagle Scout pins in recognition for their support and guidance. His former Scoutmaster and mentor Mike Webb, was presented the mentor pin and also presented Holloway with his Eagle Scout Card and a letter from Wayne Brook, chief Scout executive.

The flag ceremony was conducted by Boy Scout Troop 729 Assistant Senior Patrol LeaderAlex Fisher.

Lonnie Fisher, unit commissioner for Troop 729, was master of ceremonies, with Tina Walton, Eagle Scout committee chairman, providing a brief Scout history of Holloway. Ryan Coverstone, Troop 729 Scout master, presented the Eagle Scout award.

Holloway has been a part of Scouts since second grade and is a member of the Order of The Arrow. In Cub Scouts he earned several trophies in soapbox derbies and earned the Arrow of Light. On Sept. 16, 2008, he crossed over into Boy Scouts and has worked his way through the Boy Scout ranks.

Since being in high school he has been on the honor roll for the past three years and is in his second year of the JROTC program where he has held the position of squad leader and SFC. He earned three medals last year and plans to stay in the JROTC program until graduation.