On March 9 at the Church of the Annunciation, three new Eagle Scouts from Troop 6 Cranston reached the highest honor in scouting.

Jared Joseph Farley, Brad Allen Thies and Mark Andrew Williams Jr., all from Cranston, celebrated with family, friends and other scouts at their National High Court of Honor. An estimated 100 people were in attendance.

Currently under the leadership of Scoutmaster Jim Bennett, Troop 6 Cranston has been active in the community for years. Approximately 176 scouts, since 1933, from Troop 6 Cranston have reached the rank of Eagle.

Also, stopping by to congratulate the three new Eagle Scouts were Mayor Allan Fung and Rep. Nicholas Mattiello, Speaker of the House.

Jared J. Farley, age 17, has held several leadership positions including Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Quartermaster and JASM. An honor roll student at La Salle Academy, Farley is now in his junior year. He is presently looking to major in philosophy in college in hopes for a career in law or politics.

“Scouting teaches life lessons that turn boys into young men,” said Farley.

For his Eagle Scout project, he organized a coat drive to benefit the patrons of the West End Community Center, a place where disadvantaged Rhode Islanders get food and clothing. In total, Farley was able to deliver more than 500 coats and sweaters for the Center.

He began in scouting a Tiger Club after seeing how much fun his brothers were having. In fact, he joined his brothers who are also Eagle Scouts, Dylan, a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army and Jack, a freshman at Catholic University in D.C.

Also, earning his rank of Eagle Scout that night was Brad Allen Thies, age 16. His leadership positions include Den Chief, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Guide and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.

Thies is a junior at Cranston High School West. He loves swimming and recently completed his lifeguard certification. He is most passionate about baseball and is on his high school team and a summer travel team.

“When it rains most birds head for shelter. The eagle is the only bird that in order to avoid the rain starts flying above the clouds,” said Thies.

For his Eagle Scout project, Thies, wanted to do something that would have a lasting effect.  He planned and built a Pergola in the exercise yard at the Cranston Animal Shelter. This will continue to provide shad for the dogs to lay in as well as for people to sit on benches.  He also cleared a pile of debris which has also prompted the City of Cranston to cut the grass once a week rather than every other week. Leading his team of scouts, they also built and installed cat scratchers in the cat cages.

The third Scout to reach the rank of Eagle was Mark A. Williams, Jr., age 17. He is a senior at La Salle Academy and had played football and track and field. He also plays saxophone and performs with the La Salle Concert Band. Williams is also involved in the Cranston Police Explorers Program. He hopes to major in business and minor in criminal justice.

“Scouting taught me a lot of leadership skill,” said Williams Jr., “which will help me forever.”

His leadership positions have been that of Instructor and Guide.

He is a second-generation Eagle Scout from Troop 6 Cranston and a third-generation scout. For his Eagle Scout project, Williams led scouts and they refurbished the outside of a special needs group home. They cleaned the yard and disposed of all the waste. They also put up a new clothesline in the backyard as well as planted shrubs, cleaned beds and added mulch in the yard.

Refreshments were later served in the church hall with boards featuring each Eagle Scouts project and accomplishments.