Scouting Involvement Made the Difference by Collin

Scouting Involvement Made the Difference by Collin - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

Boy Scouts does a lot for a kid, but the one thing it did for me and many of the other boys in my troop was introduce us to a man whose shadow would change a boy for the better. His name was Thomas Lehmier. He was a scoutmaster, a teacher, a prayer leader, a soldier, and most of all a friend. Mr. Lehmier founded my troop, but by the time I joined, he had resigned from his position and taken on a more behind the scenes role that suited his age. Regardless of his position, he made it a point to welcome every single new scout at our first troop meeting with a big smile and a hug. At first, I was a bit scared of this old man hugging everybody, but soon I realized he genuinely cared for every single one of us in a way that an eleven year old could never have understood. Only now as I step into adult life do I realize the extent of his care, his role in shaping my life, and the inspiration for serving others a priority.
Mr. Lehmier led a unique life that suited his honest and open personality. As a teenager, Mr. Lehmier joined scouting and at one point secretly served as a Scoutmaster for his troop with the school janitor signing as the position. After completing high school, Mr. Lehmier enlisted in the Marines and served on the Pacific Front during World War II. After turning down officer training to complete a promise to his commanding officer, Mr. Lehmier went to college to become a teacher. After college and meeting his wife, Mr. Lehmier began working as a professional scouter. Living all over the country and serving in various positions with the Boy Scouts of America, Mr. Lehmier eventually found his way to the little town of Lititz where he started Troop 142, the same troop that I would join over forty years later. Mr. Lehmier remained active in both my church and the troop even through the tragic death of his grandson in a motorcycle accident and his beloved wife. Throughout this hard time in his life, Mr. Lehmier kept a smile on his face and a ready hug to give.
Mr. Lehmier never let life hold him down until the day he died. His funeral, an event that filled the Church, with equal parts beige scout uniforms and the many people Mr. Lehmier had impacted, with his kindness and compassion. The funeral was mourning the loss of a genuinely amazing person, but also celebrating the massive mark he left on everyone he met. Knowing Mr. Lehmier, albeit only for a brief time, inspired me to not only live, but to love living so much that I leave every person I meet just a little bit happier and a little bit better.