15-Year Old Life Scout, Matt Leary, Leads Community Service Project

 Cross-published In The Southington Citizen

Matt Leary, Life Scout

Boy Scouts of America: For God, Country, Self & Others

A breath of positive news inspires a needed ray of hope for good citizenship and patriotism. Such is the stuff of this story of a community service project and a group of Boy Scouts led by a Southington boy of 15.

Established more than a hundred years ago, the Boy Scouts of America is part of a global non-profit endeavor that promotes virtues such as character, citizenship and fitness in youngsters. The Scout Oath declares the central duties to God, Country, Self and others. Service projects undertaken for church, school and community are performed by boys enabling them to responsibly hone skills that prepare them for lifelong duties.

Illustrating the intrinsic value of community work generated by scouts is the story of Star Scout, Matthew Leary of Southington who led a team of eight Boy Scouts of Troop 3, Waterbury in a much needed Southington service project this month.  With the approval of his Scoutmaster, Bill Meo, and the Town Manager, Garry Brumback, Matt Leary chose, as his community service project, the clearance of the Laning Street entry to the Town of Southington’s 47 acre Griffin Open Space Parcel.

Laning St. entrance to Griffin Open Space area before clearance. From left: Jeremy Melenciano, Andrew Belske, Matthew Leary, Joseph DeCrisanti, Nick Gormley, Timothy Belske, Tom Sullivan, Anthony Belske and Town Manager, Garry Brumback.  Absent: Joe Mennillo.

Describing the project, Leary said: “The entrance to the open space trail became overgrown with brush, impacted by significant storm damage and illegal dumping, to the extent of blocking access to the trailhead”. The energetic crew of Boy Scouts and 5 adults expended 84 man-hours of volunteer service planning and performing the work. In addition to clearing the brush and debris, the Scouts swept the curb, cleaned the water catch basins and posted a ‘No Dumping’ sign at the entrance.

Griffin Open Space entryway after restoration

Neighboring property owners expressed support for the Boy Scouts volunteer work, but also indicated their disappointment with the project, fearing that it may attract dirt bikes onto the property, Leary said. On August 14, Matt was presented a letter of gratitude from the Town's Open Space Committee.

Scout Troops are organized by ‘patrols’ with older boys teaching skills to younger boys, building character, trust, preparedness and leadership while advancing through the ranks of tenderfoot, 2nd class and 1st class scout. Boys may then advance to Star, Life and the highest rank of Eagle Scout.

Matt became a cub scout at age 7 in Pack 218 in Waterbury where he ultimately earned the ‘Arrow of Light’, the highest award in Cub Scouts and was tapped for the Order of the Arrow, as was his dad in his boyhood. After completion of the service project this month, Mathew Leary passed his Board of Review, thus achieving the rank of Life Scout. His journey to Eagle Scout now begins with many merit badges to be acquired, leadership effectiveness skills and a new and more challenging project required.

Leary is a sophomore at St. Paul’s Catholic H.S. in Bristol who attended St. Dominic School through 5th grade and St. Thomas through 8th. He loves sports, has played Town of Southington baseball, soccer, and basketball in grade school years and high school.

Matt resides in Southington with his mom, Karen Matthews Leary, a physical therapist at the Consolidated School District of New Britain and at the Hartford Hospital, and his dad, John J. Leary, who is Director of Consolidated Accounting at Tronox in Stamford, CT who also is an elected town official serving as Chairman of the Southington Board of Finance. Mr. Leary has been in scouting himself continuously since his own boy scout days in 1978 at Troop 3, where he is currently an assistant scoutmaster. Matt's older sister, Lauren, is a freshman at St. Joseph University in West Hartford who attended the same schools as her younger brother. The family has been deeply involved at their parish Church of St. Dominic for years.

Matt Leary is in on the far right, standing, holding the Troop 3 flag. John Leary, Matt's dad is seen immediately to his right. John is Assistant Scoutmaster. Standing in back, center, is Scoutmaster Bill Meo.  

An accomplished swimmer, Life Scout Matt Leary is proficient at sailing, kayaking, canoeing, rowing and enjoys traveling and exploring. Matt enjoys golf, particularly playing with his grandfather, Dave Matthews. Matt likes science, investigating how things work, enjoys cooking at home and over an open fire while camping. Matt enjoys being a leader in Boy Scouts, teaching skills to younger boys. He’s a tad shy and reserved but has an acute sense of what is going on around him and is a very considerate gentleman. Matt does many chores around home: snow shoveling, lawn mowing, tree trimming, painting, and home repairs. Leary is proficient with a range of power tools. He enjoys working with his hands and using tools. Matt helps his great grandfather who is 96 years old with many household chores as he does at home. He spends time with his great-grandfather watching Yankee games and loves spending time with his 2-year old Golden Retriever, Lucy.

Activities that are not part of Matt's favorite pastimes? Answer:Reading and writing! Well, not just yet, anyway.

Afterword

With profound thanks to the Leary family for their time and input in bringing you this story, for their many contributions to our community through the years and their treasured family values.

Now, Scouts,citizens and friends, let's keep the campfires glowing!

Actual Troop 3 Campfire