Every parent wants their child to make friends and enjoy close lasting relationships but its an added bonus when the whole family becomes friends, as is the case with the Riveras & Jensons. My son Austin recently became an Eagle Scout, below is the speech I wrote and read at his Eagle Scout ceremony.
Two Friends & Eagle
Let me take you back to when Austin & Luigi first Meet….
We relocated back to Texas in the Fall of 2004, and decided to built in a brand new neighborhood that would include an onsite elementary school.
The brand new school open it’s door on August 15th 2005. Austin was in Mrs. Cox 1st grade class, fourteen days later Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana & Mississippi. At this point we had a couple of more weeks before we closed on our house, and I’m having second thought about living so close to Galveston Texas.
After nine long months we finally moved into our house, it was Labor Day weekend. Then just 25 days later we had to evacuate because Hurricane Rita was headed to Galveston Island. After 8 days of evacuation we came back into the house, as you can imagine this was a very stressful and difficult time.
I was a very busy stay at home Mom, unpacking boxes, organizing and decorating our home. Everyday Austin would come home and tell me that one Mother would go to school and eat lunch with her son….EVERYDAY!
He then ask me to go eat lunch with him everyday as well. I told him that was not possible because I still had a lot of boxes to unpack but would go soon. As time passes Austin becomes friends with the boy named Luigi and would sometimes eat with him and his Mom at the parent table.
More time past and by now it’s early October.
One day Austin told me “you really need to meet this Mom she speaks Spanish, has long dark hair, laughs loud like you and even kind of looks like you”. I told Austin to give her my phone number so we could talk before meeting. The very next day Wanda called, we stayed on the phone for an hour and haven’t stop talking since.
I started to have lunch more often with Austin and our new friends, soon after we added after school play dates. I later found out that Austin used to tell Wanda that she need to meet me for the same reasons.
On the last day of school all six of us Wanda, Luigi, his sister Natalie, Austin, his brother Blake and myself went to lunch. This became an yearly tradition that will continue till next year when they graduate for high school .
Childhood friends are as close to siblings as we will ever have.
In second grade they kept asking us how they could become real brothers. Wanda told them about blood brothers and at one point there was talk about getting a priest. We ended up having a small ceremony, where we declared them brothers and they have been ever since.
In third grade Austin decided to play little league tackle football. The following year Luigi played football however they were not on the same team and wouldn’t be till they were sophomores in high school. Thur the years we have cheered them on at swimming, basketball, baseball, football, track and wrestling events.
Together they became Eagle Scouts.
Luigi joined Boy Scouts in first grade but Austin had no interest in it. Luigi would tell Austin all about the camping trips he took with the troop and how much fun they were. When they were in 5th grade Luigi finally talked Austin into going to a Scout camping trip during Spring break. Austin learned a lot about camping and did fun activities plus had a great time with Luigi and another friend Ryan. The next Monday he attended his first Boy Scout meeting.
As Scouts they learned how to cook with minimal supplies, shoot rifles, first aide and many life skills. They have gone on many camping trips including rock climbing in Colorado. They’ve had many adventures that have created a lifetime of memories.
Most scouts have individual Eagle Scout ceremonies but Austin and Luigi wanted to celebrate together.
Our fundamental beliefs and attitudes are greatly influenced by the people we allow into our lives.
Austin & Luigi have always encouraged, supported and helped each other out. They have a million inside jokes together that will make them laugh uncontrollable anytime they remember them ( by the way their laugh is contagious).
They have a special bond made up of endless conversations, sleepovers, family vacations, and celebrations, that could never compare to any other friendship.
Thur the years I’ve heard them say things like ” well I’m going to tell my kids ……about you, or when you come over to my house…., they automatically assume that they will be in each others lives, and that makes me very happy.
Some people come into our lives and barely leave a trace, others leave a string of footprints etched upon our hearts, letting us know they are with us every step we take.
The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest possible achievement for the Boys Scout of American, a level achieved by only 4% of scouts.
Congratulations Austin & Luigi
Their first grade teacher Mrs. Cox She attended the boys Eagle Scout ceremony even though she wasn’t feeling well and had gotten out of the hospital a couple of days before.
When two friends are so close that they would do anything for each other they are considered honorary brothers.
To your childhood friend, you never have to explain things about your past to them… because they were right by your side when it happened. No one will fill your shoes like you did. It’s impossible. So I’ll accept our childhood friendship for what it was, for what it is, a gift, a beautiful chapter in the book of life.
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