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July 28, 2007

Terre Haute Boy Scout with Down syndrome on verge of reaching Eagle Scout

Teen expected to become first Eagle Scout from Ryves Youth Center in 25 years

By Crystal Garcia

TERRE HAUTE — If Daniel Snider could pick a representative for the Boy Scouts of America, he would pick 17-year-old Eric Burns of Terre Haute.

“He is everything a Scout should be,” said Snider, the institutional representative for Troop 22 sponsored by Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall and assistant director of the center. “… I really wish I had a whole troop of kids with his attitude.”

Burns is expected to become the first Eagle Scout from the center in 25 years, said the center’s director, Jim Edwards, who is also the Scoutmaster for the troop.

Although it took Burns a little longer to get all the necessary merit badges because he has Down syndrome, Edwards said he has been mainstreamed in almost everything and he’s just like any other kid. He has been a Scout since he was about 10 years old.

“When any of our scouts see Eric, they don’t see someone with Down syndrome,” Edwards said, “they see another Scout.”

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that causes delays in physical and intellectual development, according to the National Association for Down Syndrome’s Web site. People with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. It occurs in one of about 800 births.

To become an Eagle Scout, Burns had to progress through the ranks of Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star and Life by passing tests and earning the necessary number of merit badges.

Of the 120 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify, including the required 12 badges of first aid, citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the world, communications, environmental science, personal fitness, personal management, camping and family life. Also, the Scout must choose between emergency preparedness and lifesaving, as well as cycling, hiking or swimming, according to the Boy Scouts of America’s Web site.

Although Burns could have applied for alternate badges because of his disability, Edwards said he didn’t want to.

Cindy Burns, Eric’s mother, said he has more than 40 badges.

“I’m proud of Eric because of scouts and the things he has done,” she said, noting that having Down syndrome did not hold him back because he’s just like the other kids.

On Saturday, he was working toward one more requirement in becoming an Eagle Scout, which was supervising a community service project.

After getting his project to beautify the front of the youth center approved, Burns then had to get donations for the materials and put together a crew to supervise. The project included putting down some landscaping brick, digging up the tulip bulbs, replanting the bulbs as well as other flowers and remulching the area.

In addition to donations, Burns also received the Youth for Resources grant through the Chances for Youth program.

Even though he had fun being the boss, Burns said it can be hard because “you’re trying to get everybody working.”

Four of Burns’ troopmates, his father, his cousin and Snider came out to help with the project. A few others also stopped to dig and plant sporadically throughout the day.

Troopmate David English, 14, of Terre Haute said he came out to help Burns because they’re friends and he wants to see him become an Eagle Scout.

“I think he really deserves this because he’s a nice person,” English said.

English, who’s a 1st Class Scout, said working for Burns wasn’t any different from working for anyone else except Burns wasn’t yelling at people.

“… Just something gives him leadership qualities,” English said. “I can’t really put my finger on it.”

Gary Rhuebottom, Burns’ father, thinks being a Scout is good for his son because it can help change children’s attitudes about things and it shows him another way of living.

“I think he’s doing pretty good,” he said about his son’s project.

Snider agreed and said the finished project will look beautiful.

“It’ll be an asset to the neighborhood and to Ryves Hall,” he said.

Edwards said Burns is already a troop leader, but being an Eagle Scout is the highest rank he can earn.

“It says a lot [to] anyone that has been a Scout,” Edwards said.

Which is one reason why Burns is working for this rank, he said. It can help him get a job.

Some famous Eagle Scouts include former President Gerald Ford; Steve Fossett, the first person to circumnavigate the Earth in a balloon; and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.

Burns’ accomplishments can serve as inspiration to future Eagle Scouts, Snider said, because it shows that the requirements can be met with hard work.

“He’s a better Scout than I’ll ever be,” Snider said. “… he’s just an inspiration to me.”

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.

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