Double Eagle honors

The Saukville-based Troop 868 recently presented two of its members with the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award.

Honored were Aaron Duenk, the son of Barbara and Homer Duenk of Belgium, and Adam Ernisse, the son of Kristen and Dale Ernisse of Newburg.

The Scouts were recognized in ceremonies held Sunday, Aug. 9, at the Grady Park Pavilion in Saukville.

Troop 868 is sponsored by the Saukville Lions Club. Duenk and Ernisse are two of approximately 4% of all BSA members who attain the rank of Eagle.

Scouts must earn 21 merit badges, show leadership and complete a community or church-related service project to fulfill the Eagle requirements. 

Duenk’s project was constructing a sun shelter and two benches at Pepi’s Playground Dog Park, a three-acre, fenced facility in the Village of Belgium. 

Ernisse’s project was constructing a handicapped-accessible outdoor seating area with a pergola and two Aldo Leopold benches near the free library at Welcome Home Bed & Breakfast in the Village of Newburg, which provides ADA-compliant overnight accommodations to people with disabilities.

Both Scouts served Troop 868 in a variety of roles, including senior patrol leaders. Duenk’s final leadership role was troop guide and Ernisse’s final leadership role was instructor. 

Both Scouts participated in merit badge clinics; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) days; camporees; summer camps and troop camp-outs. 

In addition, both Scouts took part in the 10-day 2017 National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia, which was attended by 40,000 Scouts from around the world. They camped and participated in whitewater rafting, ziplining, mountain biking, rock climbing, watersports, shooting sports, and hiking.

On the same trip, they visited Gettysburg National Military Park, Washington D.C. and the National Museum of the US Air Force. 

Duenk also attended National Youth Leadership Training and is a member of the Order of the Arrow.

Duenk is a 2020 graduate of Cedar Grove-Belgium High School, and Ernisse is a 2020 graduate of Ozaukee High School. Duenk will attend University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee to study architecture. Ernisse will attend Milwaukee Area Technical College to study computer electronic technology.