- Andrew J. “A.J.” Faires stands next to the sign that was his Eagle Scout project at the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo Provided)
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- Andrew J. “A.J.” Faires will receive his Eagle Scout award at a ceremony today in Marietta. He is a member of Troop 203 in Parkersburg. From left are Assistant Scoutmaster Leroy “Butch” Hawkins; Patrick Shook, Kootaga District advancement chair; Faires; Scoutmaster Shaun Harris; Brian Bennett, Troop 203 advancement chair; and Linda Maxon, troop committee member. (Photo Provided)
Andrew J. “A.J.” Faires stands next to the sign that was his Eagle Scout project at the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo Provided)
MARIETTA — A Scout from Marietta will receive his Eagle Scout award at a ceremony today.
Andrew J. “A.J.” Faires started in Cub Scouts in May 2015 after completing kindergarten at St. Mary School in Marietta, joining Pack 653 chartered by St. Mary’s Church.
Faires will be formally presented the Eagle Scout award at 6 p.m. today at the Norwood United Methodist Church basement where a dinner will be held followed by the award presentation.
Faires is the son of Joe and Kelly Faires and the grandson of Phyllis J. Huck of Marietta. He transferred to Pack 231 at Putnam School under cubmaster Aaron Heiss when Pack 653 did not recharter.
After earning the Arrow of Light award in December 2019, he visited all the local troops and crossed over to Troop 203 in Parkersburg in February 2020. Gov. Mike DeWine announced Ohio would be under a stay at home order starting March 23, 2020, which meant many weekly troop meetings and summer camp would be canceled.
Andrew J. “A.J.” Faires will receive his Eagle Scout award at a ceremony today in Marietta. He is a member of Troop 203 in Parkersburg. From left are Assistant Scoutmaster Leroy “Butch” Hawkins; Patrick Shook, Kootaga District advancement chair; Faires; Scoutmaster Shaun Harris; Brian Bennett, Troop 203 advancement chair; and Linda Maxon, troop committee member. (Photo Provided)
Faires achieved the rank of Eagle Scout on Oct. 29, 2024, the highest rank in scouting. Troop 203 is chartered by The Amputee Center in Parkersburg.
Faires is a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society. He was nominated by his troop and completed his Ordeal Weekend on Sept. 30, 2023, at Camp Arrowhead. His membership was sealed at his Brotherhood weekend on April 7, 2024, at Camp Kootaga.
He is currently a registered Arrowman in Wapiti Chapter, Takhonek Lodge 617, as well as his Troop’s Order of the Arrow representative.
In addition to the traditional outdoor skills learned in Boy Scouts, Faires has earned merit badges that include theater and space exploration. Eagle Palms are earned for each additional five merit badges over what is required and he earned his Bronze Palm.
He earned a rare merit badge in moviemaking thanks to Assistant Scoutmaster Brian Bennett, an author and filmmaker. Faires and others in the troop had the opportunity to participate as extras in Bennett’s film, “Precognito” released in 2023, during filming in downtown Marietta.
Fairies and other Scouts were extras in the movie.
His Eagle Scout project was to solicit funds to purchase and install a new letterboard sign to benefit the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department, where his dad, Joe, is a volunteer firefighter. Faires coordinated two troop workdays to install the sign, which is used to advertise pancake breakfasts and other community events.
Faires served in various leadership positions including troop historian, quartermaster, scribe, patrol leader and assistant patrol leader.