CARIBOU, Maine — Maine Sen. Troy Jackson paid Caribou Scout Troop 184 a visit on July 8 to present Jack Doody with a Legislative Sentiment for the achievement of becoming an Eagle Scout.
Scoutmaster Vaughn Keaton said that while Jackson was invited to Doody’s May 19 Eagle Scout ceremony, he was unable to attend due to a prior engagement. Keaton and Jackson then planned to hold a special meeting on the eighth so Doody could receive the award from Jackson in person.
Doody, for his Eagle Scout project, created 14 signs to help outdoor travelers, tourists and hunters navigate the North Maine Woods.
“We’ve been up there several times,” Keaton said, “and it was easy to get lost. You’d come to a fork in the road and there would be a 50/50 chance that it took you to the right place. This happened to us quite a few times in the past and one night we were sitting by the campfire and Jack asked if he could make some signs for his Eagle Scout project.”
Keaton said officials with the North Maine Woods were thrilled when they learned of his project, adding that Sen. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, also commended Doody on his work.
“He thanked Doody for doing that,” said Keaton, “and said that it was a good move on his part. He was also very apologetic about being delayed in getting the sentiment to him.”
The Scoutmaster said Jackson stayed for about half an hour and told the scouts that they can contact him any time, and that they are welcome to visit the Maine Legislature and see how things operate.”
“He said he’d make sure to arrange a tour for any of the boys if they wanted,” Keaton said, “and that he could help arrange to have them come down and be a page or observer for the day.”
Jackson also presented Doody with a flag from the state of Maine. During his May Eagle Scout Ceremony, Doody also received a flag from Washington, D.C., courtesy of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office along with awards from the Caribou Rotary Club, the Caribou Kiwanis, the Caribou VFW and American Legion, the Marine Corps League, and a Scout History Award from Keaton.
