(Photo: George McNish/NJ Advance Media)
Julio Balde of Newark, New Jersey first got involved in scouting 80 years ago. He fell in love with it and, a few years later, in 1942, founded Troop 102. Since then, he's taught hundreds of boys in several generations to grow up into the virtuous manhood that the Boy Scouts teach. New Jersey On-Line reports:
In the troop's heyday, there easily were 40 to 50 Boy Scouts. Troop 102 even had a drum and bugle corps and a color guard. There were 43 Eagle Scouts among its ranks, and eight of them earned scouting's highest honor in one year.
Now at 95, Balde is ready to retire and disband the troop. There are 6 Scouts in his troop and 4 of them are graduating from high school this year. And even if they weren't leaving, he finds that he can't keep up with the physical demands of leading the troop anymore. Now he's shutting down his office in a local Catholic church. His Scouts are stopping by to express their appreciation for everything Balde taught them:
Just as Balde finished talking about all the scout items, Bryan Llerena, 14, walked in from the other room where the celebration was taking place.
He's a former member of the troop and he came to say goodbye.
"Thank you for everything,'' Llerena said, shaking Balde's hand.
-via AP