Submitted by Kathy Brown.
(July 2, 2026) — Haddam Scout Troop #44 conducted its Spring Court of Honor on June 20, 2026 at its monthly campout in Haddam. A Court of Honor is a formal ceremony in Scouting to recognize and celebrate Scouts’ achievements in earning merit badges and advancements in rank.
The Scouts began the ceremony by entering the parade field bearing the American flag and the Troop flag. Scouts Caiden Taylor, Ben Mueller, Caleb Denison, and Declan Sikora led the ceremony, with assistance from Scoutmaster Mark Pach, which was held at Camp Gustafson, the troop’s property in Haddam.
The ceremony was opened by lighting candles and reciting the Scout Law which reminds Scouts of the twelve traits all Scouts must adhere to. “A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.”
During this time, the troop recognized Scouts for their hard work in developing the skills necessary to complete merit badges in a variety of categories, such as Personal Fitness, Personal Management, and Citizenship in the World. Seven scouts were presented with merit badges at the ceremony.
At the Court of Honor, eight Scouts earned rank advancements, including four who earned the highest achievement: Eagle Scout (details to follow in another article). The seven ranks are earned sequentially, starting with Scout and culminating in Eagle. To advance in rank, a Scout follows a rigorous set of tasks which guides a Scout through the process of learning various skills and demonstrating various leadership abilities. After a Scout has completed all the tasks necessary for rank advancement, the Scout presents their progress to the Scoutmaster and the troop leadership committee for review and approval. At this Court of honor, the following Scouts advanced rank:
- Ben Mueller and Joseph Rizzo – Star Scout
- Caleb Denison – Second Class
- AJ Frank – Life Scout
- Jaden Frank, Zach Lloyd, Harrison Reed, Mason Weems – Eagle Scout
Troop #44 is very active: camping once a month while school is in session, going on a 3-4 day camping trip each May in various locations around New England (this year’s spring trip was held in Cape Cod), attending a week of summer camp at Camp Mattatuck, holding three can-and-bottle drives a year at the Higganum Community Center (the Saturday following each Memorial Day, Labor Day, and New Year’s Day), and doing various service projects in our community.
Haddam Scout Troop #44 is open to youth ages 11 to 18 and meets weekly in the basement of the Haddam Congregational Church on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. any time school is in session during the school year. If you are interested in learning more about the troop, please contact Steve Denison at (860) 373-4688 or sdenison@liberty.edu or Dan Lamoureux at (860) 754-8336. We would love to tell you more about the exciting activities we have planned for next year.
Photos by Troop #44.
