Old Town youth achieves Eagle Scout ranking

OLD TOWN – Dustin Jones of Old Town, 17, a senior at John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, was honored on April 29 at the BPO Elks lodge in Bangor for attaining Eagle Scout rank, the highest award in Boy Scouts.

For his Eagle Scout project, Jones constructed shelving units and countertops for Crossroad Ministries in Old Town. Under the direction of Brenda Davis, Crossroads Ministries strives to end hunger. Jones organized the project, raised funds for it and oversaw its completion.

Jones started in Scouting at age 6 as a Tiger Cub in Pack 302 of Glenburn. As a member of Pack 302 he earned the Religious Emblem, the God and ME and God and Family medals.

As a Webelo Scout, he earned the highest award in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light.

Jones is a member of Troop 8 under the guidance of Scoutmaster Dana Hunter. In Troop 8, Jones has served as quartermaster, fire master, troop guide, librarian, assistant senior patrol leader and patrol leader. He took part in three High Adventure trips with Troop 8, earning the 50-Miler and Triple Trekker awards.

Fellow Scout members of Troop 8 nominated Jones for the Order of the Arrow. After completing the requirements he became a member of the Pamola Lodge Order of the Arrow 244.

For nine years Jones attended Camp Roosevelt as a camper. Passing on the traditions and skills involved in Scouting, Jones returned to Camp Roosevelt the past two summers as a camp counselor and merit badge counselor in the Nature Lodge, where he taught environmental science, mammal study, geology and soil and water conservation.

At the Eagle Scout Court of Honor, the Rev. Bob Carlson delivered the invocation. State Sen. Joe Perry presented Jones with a proclamation from the Maine Legislature. State Sen. Elizabeth Schneider presented Jones with a U.S. flag which had flown over the Capitol in Washington on March 13 at the request of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to commemorate Jones’ achievement.

Jones received congratulatory letters from many people and organizations, including President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Gov. John Baldacci and BPO Elks lodge members.

Jones is the son of Laura and Paul “Butch” Jones.

After graduation from high school, Jones will further his education at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York to pursue a degree in micro-electronic engineering and nanotechnology.