Housatonic Council Boy Scout Troop 3 in Derby recently awarded Eagle Scout Rank to Matthew Poppa and Raymond Veillette during a Court of Honor held at the Derby 2nd Congregational Church.
Matthew Poppa is the 17-year-old son of Troop 3 Committee members Cynthia and Michael Poppa. He is the brother of Eagle Scout Stephen Poppa and Girl Scout Sara Poppa, all of Derby.
Matthew began his scouting career with Cub Scout Pack 3 Derby and earned the Light of Christ and Arrow of Light awards. As a member of Troop 3, Matthew served as patrol leader for the Unprovoked Moose Attack patrol and Pack 3 as a Den Chief.
He has attended summer camp at Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation and has been the Assistant Archery Instructor and Water Sport Director for Housatonic Council Cub Scout Day Camp.
Matthew was a member of Housatonic Council’s 2005 Boy Scout National Jamboree contingent. In 2007, he toured Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England with Troop 3, attending the World Jamboree and participating in the 100th anniversary of Scouting Ceremony in Peterborough, England.
In 2008, Matthew was part of the Troop 3 group to sail an 80-foot, two masted schooner in the Florida Keys through the BSA Florida Seabase program. Matthew is an ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow Lodge 553. As a member of Venture Crew 33 Matthew participated in the Maine Adventure Bound program.
Matthew is a 2008 graduate of Derby High School, where he was academically ranked eighth in his class.
He was a member of the National Honor Society, captain of the Ultimate Frisbee club and captain of the Derby High School Wrestling team. Matthew placed second in the Class S wrestling tournament and he was awarded the SCC Scholar Athlete Award and the Mayor’s First Youth of the Year Award.
He also participated in the American Legion Boys State program . Matthew and his family are parishoner’s at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Derby.
For his Eagle Scout community service project, Matthew led a group of adults and scouts in the restoration of the back patio area of the Birmingham Health Center, constructing and installing benches and planters on the patio. The project has enhanced the lives of the residents and their families.
Matthew is now attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., where he is majoring in mathematics.
Raymond Veillette is the 18-year-old son of Raymond and Lori Veillette and is the brother of Sarah, all of Derby.
Raymond has been involved in Scouting since joining Cub Scout Pack 3 in 1997. Upon earning the Arrow of Light Award, he joined Troop 3 in 2001.
He has served Troop 3 as a patrol leader, assistant Quarter Master, Den Chief and troop guide. Raymond has attended summer camp at Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation and was a member of Housatonic Council’s 2005 National Scout Jamboree contingent.
As a member of Venture Crew 33, Raymond participated in a 50-mile backpacking adventure at Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico and he was a member of Crew 33’s group to attend the Maine Adventure Bound program.
Raymond and his family are members of St. Michael Church in Derby and, as a scout, he has earned the Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei and Ad Alteri Dei Catholic Religious awards.
Raymond is a 2009 graduate of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, where he was awarded the Daniel E. Doody Memorial Award for Photography.
He was a Peer Councilor and a member of the Swimming and Diving Team, placing 12th in the state for diving during the 2009 season.
Raymond has been employed at Grade A Shop Rite in Derby for 3 years, starting as a bagger and currently serving as the youngest Customer Service Representative.
For his Eagle Scout Community Service project, Raymond led a group of scouts and others to clean, rake and plant grass in an area near the St. Michael’s Church parking lot.
His project has led to the transformation of an unsightly area into a meditation area, complete with park benches.
The project also involved the restoration of the existing church sign, visible from Route 34.
Raymond is attending Paier College of Art, where he is majoring in photography.
The Eagle Scout Court of Honor was under the direction of Assistant Scoutmaster James Frovarp and included a slide show of the Eagle’s Scouting career by Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.
“Our troop is very proud of all that Ray and Matt have accomplished in and out of Scouting. They are excellent role models for our younger scouts” Ritter said.
In addition to personal recognition from Housatonic Council President Richard Marano and Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri, Matthew and Raymond received congratulatory letters from Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Sen. Christopher Dodd, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman.
Matthew Poppa and Raymond Veillette are Troop 3’s 267th and 268th Eagle Scouts since Troop 3 was founded in 1914.
Scouts meets at the Derby 2nd Congregational Church on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and members encourage all boys 11 years or older to join the adventures of Scouting.
