Elkton Youth Aims For Top Tier

Eagle Scout candidate Seth Morris watches as several volunteers help him with his project on Saturday at the Stonewall Memorial Park in Elkton. Morris organized a crew to help him renovate the visitor side bleacher area of the ballpark. (Photos by Jason Lenhart)

With the help of several volunteers, Seth Morris, (second from right) moves a set of bleachers at the Stonewall Memorial Park in Elkton on Saturday.

HARRISONBURG — To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, Seth Morris of Elkton, is getting his hands dirty with a little help from his family, friends and fellow scouts.

Morris, 15, has organized efforts to replace railroad ties, which serve as steps at Ruritan Field in Stonewall Memorial Park in Elkton, to complete his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, a necessary rung on the Eagle Scout ladder.

Morris, of Elkton’s Troop 46, decided on the project after asking Diane Johnson, Elkton’s parks and recreation director, what he could do to help the parks and rec department.

“[The ties] were getting all worn out and warped,” Morris said, and had become a trip hazard.

An Elkton maintenance crew removed the old ties on the visitor’s side at the home of the Elkton Blue Sox, so the volunteers could replace them.

Morris and others have spent the last two weekends on the first two tiers, and will finish the final tier next weekend, weather permitting.

Morris said that making sure the dimensions are correct so the tiers are even was harder than he thought.

“[We have to] make sure the next two [tiers] have a firm foundation so it doesn’t snake in like the old tiers did,” he said.

Morris’ leadership service project must reach 100 total man hours before he can stand before the Eagle Scout Board of Review.

“I think I’m a little over that already,” Morris said, as he spent nearly four hours working on the project Saturday alongside 15 other volunteers who are helping him. The group spent many more hours the weekend before on the project.

Morris, who has been a scout since he was about 10 years old, said that achieving Scouting’s highest rank is an important step for him.

“It’s a really high honor and a good learning experience,” he said.

Contact Alex Rohr at 574-6293 or arohr@dnronline.com