Gottheimer honors district’s highest ranking Scouts

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5, stopped by Our Lady Queen of Peace School in West Milford on Saturday to honor Scouts in his district that have obtained their respective organization’s highest awards.
“I love it,” Gottheimer said following a brief ceremony in the school’s auditorium. “These are our future leaders.”
Gottheimer and several scouting leaders honored Eagle Scouts from the Boy Scouts and Gold Award Scouts from the Girl Scouts including about 10-15 towns in his district.
“The world is your oyster, you are going to achieve incredible things,” Gottheimer said to the Eagle and Gold Award Scouts, family and friends assembled. “It is remarkable and incredible what you have done.”
He said that about 60 percent of the 100 women elected to congress in 2018, were Scouts, and that he has been amazed at the number of Scouts he has served with in that body.
“It’s moments like this that we remember that community and country are first,” he said. “What matters is that you give back. That you say ‘we’re going to put our community first.’”
According to the Boy Scouts, only about 2.25 million obtained the rank of Eagle since the organization started in 1910.
Likewise, only about 5 percent of Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, according to that organization.
“Most of the most prestigious universities in the country have an acceptance rate above 5 percent,” Gottheimer said. “Just to give you a perspective on what your kids have achieved.”
He said that all the Scouts had to provide leadership and complete a special project to benefit their respective communities.
“Every single Scout here today has worked hard to bring people together and better the lives of people around them,” he said.