Eagle Scout Matthew Mensen

Troop: 34

Eagle Project Location: Masonville Fire Department in Masonville, Iowa

Eagle Project Description: Matthew designed engraving, set, and landscaped around a large rock at the Masonville Fire Department. Constructed a retaining wall around the rock, laid washed rock, planted greenery, and installed a flagpole.

What does being an Eagle Scout mean to you? Being an Eagle Scout is the culmination of my time in Scouting. It was first a goal to achieve and now it is a guide.

If you had to describe your entire Scouting experience with just one word, what word would you choose? Why? Brotherhood. It’s an OA point, but part of the whole of Scouting, each member helping others to be both strong and virtuous.

How did earning the rank prepare you for the future? Earning the Eagle Scout rank taught me that it’s a comprehensive statement of skills, from communication with those you work beside to developing ingenuity to solve problems.

By doing your Eagle Service Project, what did you learn about managing or leading people? I learned that when you set a schedule, you know one way it won’t happen. The most reliable plan is expecting bad timing.

What advice would you give to younger Scouts who aspire to become Eagle Scouts? My advice is to be timely about it. In high school you’ll want to be involved in other activities, so time will be harder to come by as you get into high school.

Please share a favorite Scouting memory. In the span of two weeks, we planned a trip to the Florida Sea Base. It began with the Philmont Scout Ranch shutting down due to the Ute Park wildfire, and from the stress of that trip being cancelled the trip to Florida was born. It is one of my favorite memories in or out of Scouting. And amidst the stress of the wildfires God blessed us with that experience at Sea Base.