Boy Scouts Honor Town, Heun

SWAINTON — Veronica “Ronnie” Town and Douglas J. Heun were honored as “Distinguished Citizens of 2012” by Southern New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America at a reception Oct. 16 at Avalon Links.
U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) presented both with their awards as several hundred supporters and Boy Scouts from Troop 79 wached.
Town, senior public affairs manager, Atlantic City Electric Co., thanked her co-workers and asked them to stand. She reflected on her own time as a Girl Scout, and said it taught her self confidence, how to lead and be competitive. Scouting to Town was “a wonderful opportunity.” She also lauded her scout leader, her mentor, who led by example, and “never wanted anything in return.”
Heun, a certified public accountant, was a founding partner in the firm Tracey Heun Brennan and Co., and is presently with the firm Friedman LLP.
Alex Schoedler, a Life Scout from Troop 79, Upper Township.addressed the group telling what Scouting had done for him, helping to become a leader, and hopeful that he would achieve Eagle Scout rank. He noted that without participating in Scouting, it would never have been possible for him to achieve any of those things.
Patricia Purdy, president, Southern New Jersey Council, said that in 2011 the Baysea District made 27 Eagle Scouts, and that, to date this year, there have been 27 Eagle Scouts promoted. She said in the district there are about 1,400 youths involved in Scouting. Yet, she noted, “There are thousands we are not serving.”
Purdy said that it is incumbent on any organization member to put scouts in the public eye whenever possible. That means having them as color guard members at events. It means putting them in parades and perhaps even asking scouts to be at veterans’ events and as parking assistants at public events.