Gene s uniform Portchester Troop 3 The Oldest Eagle Scout Ever Awarded Eugene completed all requirements for the Rank of Eagle that were in effect during his tenure as a Scout (1932-1940) as a member of Troop 3 Port Chester which was sponsored by Post 93 of the American Legion. As Gene drew closer to becoming an Eagle, more leaders and former Scouts were enlisting to join the US Military. By the time Gene had completed his requirements he was promoted from Senior Patrol Leader to Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. There was no one to confer Eagle on Gene. Gene petitioned BSA National in the 1960s (letters included herein) and again physically in local offices in Hawthorne, NY in the 1980s to no avail. Gene recently came upon his Scouting materials again and decided to try one more time. We have gathered documented evidence through Gene s signed Boy Scout handbook, in addition to his Merit Badge Sash and uniform, and corroborated this evidence with Public Sources. As part of this application we are submitted 53 pages of printed articles from the Daily Item (Port Chester s local paper until 1998). Since October 2016, Gene has attended multiple Troop meetings at the Bronxville BoyscoutCabin. He has enthralled the boys of Troop 2 with his stories of Scouting and life, and serves as a reminder to our boys that they have an opportunity to achieve something special. Gene has had a wonderful career as a chemical engineer, traveled to almost 20 foreign countries, raised a family, and volunteered for 30 years as an Auxiliary Policeman in Eastchester. Perhaps most impressive is that Gene has lived a life that exemplifies the Scout Law and the Scout Oath to the fullest. Junior Asst. Scoutmaster With National BSA approval, Gene sat for his Eagle Board of Review and passed with flying colors. Gene received official word from BSA National that his Eagle Application has been accepted and awarded him the rank of Eagle. Gene may be the oldest, but in truth has lived the life of an Eagle by way of example. Yours in Scouting, Troop 2 Bronxville
Eugene Cerniglia Eastchester Volunteer 30 Years with Auxiliary Police Eugene was an active Scout in Troop 3 Port Chester, once the largest in the Siwanoy Council. Gene waited until he was 18 and attempted to enlist in the US NAVY. I asked if he was drafted, and Gene said No, we all signed up. Eugene Cerniglia aka Eugene Latanzi DOB: 02-19-1921 Unfortunately, Gene was disqualified as he was told he had a heart murmur. Gene signed on to work for the Bureau of Ships and was shipped to Halifax where he designed boiler feeds for 3 different Hospital ships (USS Comfort (AH-6), USS Hope (AH-7) and USS Mercy (AH-8)).
Gene s Advancement Record with Date and Source of Verification Rank Earned Date Earned Merit Badge Date Earned Eagle Required? Joined Scouts... Nov-32 Tenderfoot Dec-32 Signed Book Second Class Mar-33 News Paper First Class Nov-33 Signed Book Firemanship 1/10/1934 News Paper First Aid 1/10/1934 YES News Paper Personal Health 1/10/1934 YES News Paper Wood Carving Mar-34 News Paper Star Nov-34 Handicraft Nov-34 Must be 1st Class for 3 Months & any 5 Merit Badges Signed Book Public Health 3/8/1935 YES News Paper Athletics 3/10/1935 YES News Paper Metal Work 3/10/1935 News Paper Pioneering 6/10/1935 YES News Paper Pathfinding 6/10/1935 YES News Paper Safety 6/10/1935 YES News Paper Signaling 6/10/1935 News Paper Leathercraft 6/10/1935 News Paper Life Jun-35 Wood Working 6/10/1935 Must be 1st Class for 6 months & 5 required merit badges & 5 more Signed Book Physical Development 12/20/1935 YES News Paper Cooking 12/20/1935 YES News Paper Starting in 1936 for the first time Eagle has Life rank as a requirement and Life has Star rank as a requirement Scholarship 3/20/1936 News Paper Civies 3/20/1936 YES News Paper Animal Industry 3/20/1936 News Paper Architecture 3/20/1936 News Paper Basketry 3/20/1936 Eagle Requirement: 21 Total Merit Badges Earned (4 required left) News Paper Carpentry 3/20/1936 News Paper Electricity 11/20/1936 News Paper Reading 11/20/1936 News Paper F. A. to Animals 11/20/1936 News Paper Cycling 1/15/1937 News Paper Camping 3/20/1937 YES News Paper Aviation 3/23/1937 News Paper Swimming 3/23/1937 YES News Paper Bookbinding 6/18/1937 News Paper Surveying 6/18/1937 News Paper Mechanical Drawing 6/17/1938 News Paper Life Saving 6/17/1938 YES News Paper Bird Study 6/17/1938 YES Eagle Requirements met News Paper Total Merit Badges Earned = 34 Eagle Palms are equal to 5 Merit badges on to of Eagle, or last Palm earned (21+5+5=31) Bronze and Gold Palm Earned Gene has completed all requirements for Eagle Rank 1952: Note for the first time all ranks including Star, Life and Eagle must be earned before age 18. 1959: Note for the first time we have the "conservation project" for Star and Life. 1965: Note for the first time the Eagle service project, leadership, and Scoutmaster Conference are mentioned. Notes: Sourced
Gene s Boy Scout Handbook, Cover and Advancement Record Page
Eugene Cerniglia on front Eugene Latanzi on back cover
Gene s Handbook, Tenderfoot Advancement Page with Signature
No signature Validated via Daily Item news paper March 25, 1933 Gene s Handbook, 2 nd Class Advancement Page with Signature
Gene s Bookmark Made for Leatherwork Merit Badge requirement Gene s Handbook, 1 st Class Advancement Page (1 of 2)
1 st Class Advancement Page (2 of 2) with Signature
Gene s Handbook, Star Advancement Page with Signature
Gene s Handbook, Life Advancement Page with Signature
Gene s Handbook, Eagle Advancement Page
Portchester Troop 3 Service pins Life Rank pin Junior Asst. Scoutmaster
First ever BSA National Jamboree held in Wash DC, 1937 Gene was Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 3 Port Chester at the time and one of 5 Scouts who qualified to attend from his Troop Chevrolet Newsreel (2min 12 sec) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aivqv6vla3w TexRides With The Boy Scouts (1937) TEX RITTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plrhnz5effo
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 First Aid Firemanship Cycling 1/10/1934 1/10/1934 1/15/1937 Signaling Personal Health Wood Carving 6/10/1935 1/10/1934 3/1/1934 Basketry Athletics Woodworking 3/20/1936 3/10/1935 6/10/1935 Handicraft Pathfinding Metalwork 11/1/1934 6/10/1935 3/10/1935 Public Health Physical Development Cooking 3/8/1935 12/20/1935 12/20/1935 Pioneering Leathercraft Safety 6/10/1935 6/10/1935 6/10/1935 Scholarship Carpentry Civics 3/20/1936 3/20/1936 3/20/1936 Electricity Animal Industry Architecture 11/20/1936 3/20/1936 3/20/1936 Animal 1st Aid Life Saving Reading 11/20/1936 6/17/1938 11/20/1936 Swimming Aviation Book Binding 3/23/1937 3/23/1937 6/18/1937 Surveying 6/18/1937 Not shown Camping Mechanical Drawing Bird Study 3/20/1937 6/17/1938 6/17/1938