I post this simply to honor the fallen...no other words.
(CNN) -- Four Boy Scouts who died Wednesday when a tornado swept through a wilderness camp were remembered for the very qualities that had brought them to the camp in the first place.
Josh Fennen, 13, Sam Thomsen, 13, Ben Petrzilka, 14 , and Aaron Eilerts, 14, were among 93 Boy Scouts who were chosen by their troop leaders to attend leadership training this week at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch outside Omaha, Nebraska.
In addition to the deaths, 48 scouts and staff members were injured.
Friends and relatives on Thursday described the fallen scouts as multitalented, dedicated teens whose enthusiasm for life was matched only by their passion for scouting.
As a member of the Humboldt Boy Scout Troop No. 108 in Eagle Grove, Iowa, Aaron Eilerts used his own money to make pillowcases for hospital patients, according to a story that was published in the Eagle Grove Eagle last year.
He tried to donate the pillowcases to hospitals during a family vacation to Memphis, where he visited the home of Elvis, one of his heroes, the newspaper said in an article that was reprinted Thursday.
Aaron extended the same dedication to making fleece blankets for the Humane Society, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
"He embodied everything Scouting stands for," Dawn Sievertsen, principal of Robert Blue Middle School in Eagle Grove, Iowa, told the newspaper. "He would start these projects to earn badges, but took them very seriously and would continue them long after he earned the badge."
People who knew Josh Fennen of Omaha said he used many of the skills he learned in scouting in everyday life.
"We'd go hiking. He was a good hiker. He knew what to do, how to start fires and good with pocketknives," Josh's best friend, Jack Cormaci, told affiliate KETV. "He'd always be there when you needed him, always playing outside."
Jeff Alfrey, the principal at Andersen Middle School, where Josh recently finished eighth grade, described Josh as inquisitive and confident, with natural leadership qualities, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
"He was a good student, a hard worker, and he was always trying to be creative," Alfrey told the newspaper.
Sam Thomsen, who was days away from his 14th birthday, divided his time among the Boy Scouts, sports, home-schooling and the Southwest Church of Christ, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
Sam's Facebook page, where he last wrote, "Sam is ready for a week in the great outdoors," lists his interests as Jesus, football, video games and the Roadrunners, a basketball team for home-schooled children, according to the newspaper.
"He's just a great kid," Dr. Jim White, pastor of Southwest Church of Christ, told the newspaper. "He was a typical teenager, always has a smile on his face. He was just a joy to be around."
Ben Petrzilka, who just finished seventh grade at Mary Our Queen Catholic School, was remembered as kind and caring.
"He always gave it his best effort. It is a very devastating loss to the school," principal Kayleen Wallace told the newspaper.
A candlelight vigil was scheduled for Thursday evening at the Durham Scout Center in Omaha, the Boy Scouts said.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/06/12/scouts.tornado/index.html
© 2008 Cable News Network
(CNN) -- Four Boy Scouts who died Wednesday when a tornado swept through a wilderness camp were remembered for the very qualities that had brought them to the camp in the first place.
Josh Fennen, 13, Sam Thomsen, 13, Ben Petrzilka, 14 , and Aaron Eilerts, 14, were among 93 Boy Scouts who were chosen by their troop leaders to attend leadership training this week at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch outside Omaha, Nebraska.
In addition to the deaths, 48 scouts and staff members were injured.
Friends and relatives on Thursday described the fallen scouts as multitalented, dedicated teens whose enthusiasm for life was matched only by their passion for scouting.
As a member of the Humboldt Boy Scout Troop No. 108 in Eagle Grove, Iowa, Aaron Eilerts used his own money to make pillowcases for hospital patients, according to a story that was published in the Eagle Grove Eagle last year.
He tried to donate the pillowcases to hospitals during a family vacation to Memphis, where he visited the home of Elvis, one of his heroes, the newspaper said in an article that was reprinted Thursday.
Aaron extended the same dedication to making fleece blankets for the Humane Society, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
"He embodied everything Scouting stands for," Dawn Sievertsen, principal of Robert Blue Middle School in Eagle Grove, Iowa, told the newspaper. "He would start these projects to earn badges, but took them very seriously and would continue them long after he earned the badge."
People who knew Josh Fennen of Omaha said he used many of the skills he learned in scouting in everyday life.
"We'd go hiking. He was a good hiker. He knew what to do, how to start fires and good with pocketknives," Josh's best friend, Jack Cormaci, told affiliate KETV. "He'd always be there when you needed him, always playing outside."
Jeff Alfrey, the principal at Andersen Middle School, where Josh recently finished eighth grade, described Josh as inquisitive and confident, with natural leadership qualities, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
"He was a good student, a hard worker, and he was always trying to be creative," Alfrey told the newspaper.
Sam Thomsen, who was days away from his 14th birthday, divided his time among the Boy Scouts, sports, home-schooling and the Southwest Church of Christ, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
Sam's Facebook page, where he last wrote, "Sam is ready for a week in the great outdoors," lists his interests as Jesus, football, video games and the Roadrunners, a basketball team for home-schooled children, according to the newspaper.
"He's just a great kid," Dr. Jim White, pastor of Southwest Church of Christ, told the newspaper. "He was a typical teenager, always has a smile on his face. He was just a joy to be around."
Ben Petrzilka, who just finished seventh grade at Mary Our Queen Catholic School, was remembered as kind and caring.
"He always gave it his best effort. It is a very devastating loss to the school," principal Kayleen Wallace told the newspaper.
A candlelight vigil was scheduled for Thursday evening at the Durham Scout Center in Omaha, the Boy Scouts said.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/06/12/scouts.tornado/index.html
© 2008 Cable News Network
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