FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Life Scout Michael Weaver, 17 years old, of Boy Scout Troop 262, Flower Mound, Texas, informed his scoutmaster that for his Eagle Scout Project, his goal was to collect $4,000 worth of goods to donate to the Fisher Houses at Fort Sam Houston. His scoutmaster was skeptical, as this had never been done before.
But Weaver exceeded his goal and expectations and collected $7,000 worth of non-perishables items and $2,000 in cash donations in a drive conducted the last two weeks of July in the Flower Mound-Highland Village Area.
On Aug. 21, Weaver and his parents, retired Air Force Col. Andrew Weaver, former wing commander for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and Melissa Weaver, arrived in San Antonio in a U-Haul filled to capacity with boxes of groceries and $2,000 in cash that will be used to buy stereo equipment for the Fisher Houses.
In April of this year, Michael and his parents visited the Fisher Houses and he decided he wanted to do something for the Soldiers returning from overseas. Melissa encouraged her son; she had supported the Fisher House at Wright-Patterson.
"It is a pleasure to see our young folks taking care of our Soldiers and their Families," said Inge Godfrey, manager for the Fisher Houses.
Godfrey and Russ Fritz, assistant manager for the Fisher Houses, presented Michael with the Fisher House Foundation Coin and the Army Fisher House Coin.
"It was a lot of work, but it was worth it," said Michael, who put in 200 hours on his computer, organized multiple meetings with his scouts, and prepared press releases to inform his community about his project.
Hosted by Kroger stores, Michael organized several collection drives in two weekends. Donors had the opportunity to buy prepackaged grocery bags at $15 or $20. Some decided to give cash. Michael said one lady came up and handed him a $500 check. His most memorable donation was a little girl who emptied her piggy bank.
Michael said he wasn't surprised at the outpouring of commitment from his community. Organizations such as Military Officers Association of America, the Order of the Purple Heart and the Air Force Sergeants Association came forward with support.
"This shows how much they care about the Soldiers," Michael said.
Michael plans to enter Trinity University in San Antonio this fall with a major in International Studies with the focus in the Middle East as well as business administration.
"When it comes down to it, it was the community's love for its nation's military that made this the success it was," Michael said.
With the completion of the project, Michael is one step closer to becoming an Eagle Scout.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in Boy Scouts of America. Part of the requirements to attain the rank is to complete a service project that demonstrates leadership and commitment to duty.
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