Photo submitted to Times Observer From left are Thomas Gaskin, of Warren, a member of Jamestown Scout Troop 187, receiving the Eagle Scout Medal from his mother, Anna Gaskin.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, an Eagle Court of Honor was held for a Warren’s Thomas Gaskin in Scout Troop 187, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Jamestown, N.Y. The Eagle Scout Award is the highest rank and most prestigious award in the Boy Scouts of America.

Gaskin, 17, is the son of Tom and Anna Gaskin of Warren. He is a senior in home school. Extracurricular activities include piano and swordsmanship. He provides leadership and service in his local and regional church organizations, serves as a local member-missionary for his church, serves as Junior Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 187, and is president of the Warren Junior Philomel Club.

For his Eagle project, he organized and led an effort to photograph all of the more than 700 gravestones at the Bear Lake Cemetery and link them each to their respective online entries. Next year he plans to serve a two-year, full-time mission for his church, then go on to college to pursue a degree in business. Thomas presented his Eagle Mentor pin to Doug Foster of Wrightsville.

“Thomas has worked really hard to earn his Eagle Award and to provide strong leadership to his fellow young men. This award is well earned,” said David Yarber of Dunkirk, N.Y., Scoutmaster of Troop 187. “The skills he has learned will be of great benefit to not only himself but to everyone around him throughout his life. We expect great things of this young man both in Scouting and the church.”

Special Guests attending the Court of Honor included Bishop Keith Fairbank of the Jamestown Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Earnest Crawford, district executive for the Chief Cornplanter Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where Thomas spent most of his Scouting career.