NESA gathering honors newest Distinguished Eagle Scout

An arena full of Eagle Scouts helped to recognize the newest Distinguished Eagle Scout at the Gathering of Eagles on Thursday afternoon at the Munn Ice Arena, sponsored by the National Eagle Scout Eagle Scout Association.

The gathering opened with an address from NESA President Glenn Adams, who spoke of his Scouting experiences and role in setting up the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He then convened a national Court of Honor to award the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award to Todd Plotner.

Plotner was a key member in forming the NESA Chicago chapter to help re-engage Eagle Scouts in the Scouting program after high school. He was also the lead adviser for the NESA activities at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. He earned his Eagle in 1988 and is an international law and finance expert in Chicago.

The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award was created in 1969 to recognize Eagle Scouts who have received national recognition in their field and have a strong record of service to their community. A recipient must have earned the Eagle Scout rank at least 25 years prior to being nominated.

Eagles also heard from Col. Mike Fossum, an astronaut and Scoutmaster from Texas who has flown several shuttle missions and was commander of the International Space Station in 2011. Fossum shared his experiences, including carrying his original Vigil Honor sash with E. Urner Goodman’s signature to the space station and how Scouting and the Order helped to prepare him for being an astronaut.

The gathering closed with an address from Rex Tillerson, a Distinguished Eagle Scout and past president of the Boy Scouts of America (2010–2012) and a challenge from National Chief Alex Call to mentor other Scouts on the path to Eagle.