Time For You To Soar

Posted by Russ Devan (New Hanover, United States) on 16 August 2008 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.

This is Ryan, Troop 367's newest Eagle Scout. This was taken immediately following his Court of Honor where he was presented with his Eagle badge. In addition to members of our troop who were asked to speak at the Court of Honor, were two members of the Pennsylvania Legislature, who have attended Courts of Honor for our Eagle Scouts in the past. For his Eagle service project, Ryan designed, built, and installed custom wooden storage cabinets that were needed by a local pre-school.

Standing behind Ryan is his father, Blair, who is one of our troop's Asst. Scoutmasters. Blair, along with two of our other leaders, led the 70-mile canoe trip down the Delaware River beginning in New York State that some of our older scouts participated in this past July.

What is especially worth noting about this portrait is that both father and son are Eagle Scouts. The lighting and the pose, as it worked out, are a metaphor for this father and son. The sunlight streaming through the adjacent window fully illuminated Ryan, since it was his day to shine and be recognized for his achievement and hard work. But always behind his son, guiding his way, steering him in the right direction and providing him counsel...in the shadows, if you will...is his father.

The title, I think, is especially appropos for this portrait because both father and son are licensed hot-air balloonists who have their own balloon. So, these pair of Eagles have literally done their share of soaring in more ways than one.

“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” - Henry David Thoreau

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