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Eagle Scout Mirro earns distinction after assisting in local park project

By Staff | Aug 17, 2010

ANDREA GALABINSKI Pictured are (from front row left to right), Logan Massie, new Eagle Scout Eric Mirro and Steve Mirro. Also Jim Welch, Hunter Welch, Frank Welch; Ryan Mirro, Robert Ahern and Mike Massie. Not pictured, mother, Diane Mirro, who helped out as well.

He is now in the league of a president, an astronaut, Nobel Prize laureates and top business leaders.

Local resident Eric Mirro was awarded his Eagle Scout distinction in a ceremony last week, after finishing a North Fort Myers park project.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America. Only about 4 percent of all scouts have achieved the honor.

U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, and the first person to set foot on the moon, Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, are just some of the prominent Eagle Scouts.

Eric Mirro’s Eagle Scout Project at North Fort Myers Community Park has put a fresh face on the entrance, said Supervisor of Lee County Parks and Recreation Mabel Vega. “I met with Eric to see what we could do to enhance the park and together we came up with the project, which was mainly to enhance the entrance.

ANDREA GALABINSKI The work still in progress, with Eagle Scout Mirro aided by many friends, family and businesses.

“Eric is a great communicator. We discussed the project at length, and he had many good ideas.” The final product was not only the entrance to the park, but a rehab of the basketball courts and parking lots, which both needed a lot of painting. “Not only do we benefit from projects like this, but the community benefits as well,” said Vega.

He had many fellow scouts, scout masters, family and friends helped him achieve his goal.

They included Jim Welch, Hunter Welch, Frank Welch, Ryan Mirro, Mike Massie, Logan Massie, Steve Mirro and mother Diane Mirro,

Eagle Scout Robert Ahren also pitched in, a friend for about a year now.

“Mike Massie is a leader in our troop and his son, Logan also helped. The Welch family I’ve known for years and I’ve been friends with Frank since kindergarten. My brother, father and mother also pitched in.””

Why was becoming an Eagle Scout important to Mirro? “One, it is the top 4 percent of all scouts; I usually like to work towards something that may seem impossible,” he said.

The 17-year old is from Troop 82 based in North Fort Myers, and an alumnus of North Fort Myers High School. His Troop Leader is Kerry Arnett. “He’s a great leader and helped me out quite a lot,” said Mirro.

Any Eagle Scout will tell you it is hard work to attain the honor. “It’s a lot of work,” said Mirro. “You have to attain badges, a list of 12 Eagle- required, so to speak, and there are different sets, like hiking, swimming or lifesaving. I did swimming. You also have to obtain another nine; I believe 21 total.”

A leadership project workbook must be kept, detailing the final big project.

Part one was the painting with different helpers, who included Brian Weller, who is on the Eagle Board Committee and the scout master of another troop and Darian Bizios a scout from Weller’s troop. “I also had help from Terris LeVan and his son who is also an Eagle Scout, Alexander,” Mirro said.

“Then there was a three-part interview process and your scout master comes with you and officials discuss the candidate. Then they tell you if you made Eagle Scout or not.”

He was given the big thumbs up and officially became an Eagle Scout last week.

Mirro wanted to thank several members of the business community who helped him attain his goal. He got a donation from Pottinger’s Nursery for grass. “We also got a donation of paint from Sherwin-Williams and a donation of plants from Gulf Coast Nursery.”

The final product is the new look of the entrance to North Fort Myers Community Park, behind the North Fort Myers library.

“I’m very pleased with the final product,” said Vega. “He should be recognized for this achievement.”