On Sunday, February 10, 2019, Blake Madison was presented his Eagle Scout Award at a Boy Scout Court of Honor. Blake is a member of both Troop 32 of Adrian/Luverne and Troop 134 of Worthington. He is active as a Den Chief and is a member of Boy Scout’s Order of the Arrow- Scouting’s National Honor Society. Blake is also a Cadet Master Sergeant in the Worthington NCR- MN-113 Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.
Blake was honored for his accomplishments and his hard work achieving them. His project was the development of an outdoor chess and checkers set for the Adrian campground. He worked with the Adrian city council and Bruce Heitkamp to get the set installed.
Keynote addresses from Bruce Heitkamp and Bill Reum were given at the ceremony. Bruce Heitkamp spoke about working with Blake to get the project finished. Major William Reum, Assistant Squadron Commander and Deputy Cadet Commander of the Worthington NCR- MN-113 Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, spoke about Blake’s service in their program. Blake was also given an award from Adrian Mayor, John Faber, recognizing his accomplishments and community service for the city.
The idea for Blake’s project came several years ago while at Boy Scout summer camp. A conversation with Arnie Dwire the Unit Commissioner for the Prairie Hills District of the Sioux Council, planted the seed. Arnie has been involved with the Boy Scout program for 47 years and is an avid chess player just like Blake. Arnie and Blake were playing chess on the outdoor chess set at camp and the conversation they had stuck in Blake’s mind. When the time came for him to think of a project, he knew right away what he wanted to do. Arnie was unaware until the program on Sunday that he was the inspiration for Blake’s project. He was also very surprised and humbled to learn that they plaque named the project the “Arnie Dwire Chess/Checker Board” to honor his love of chess and his 47 years devoted to the Boy Scouting program in our area.
Blake, a junior at AHS, is the son of Les Madison and Dawn Anderson. Congratulations to a well deserving young man!
