[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 135 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING EAGLE SCOUT REECE O'CONNOR

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                          HON. PETER J. ROSKAM

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2016

  Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Reece O'Connor, an 
exceptional and accomplished young man from the Sixth District of 
Illinois. Reece is a senior at Hinsdale Central High School and has not 
only earned the rank of Eagle Scout but has earned every single merit 
badge the Boy Scouts of America have to offer.
   This achievement represents many years of diligence and personal 
determination in support of the ideals of scouting. What makes this 
achievement even more impressive is the fact that Reece did not join 
Boy Scouts until the 7th grade.
   Even with the late start, Reece made it his goal to ``catch up'' to 
the rest of his scout mates--and ultimately he surpassed his goal. 
While the Scouts only offer 136 merit badges, he currently has 138 
badges. The Boy Scouts frequently add new badges and retire old ones 
for special occasions; for example Reece earned several badges that 
were only offered during the Scouts' 100th anniversary. According to a 
spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America Reece's success is ``an 
extremely rare achievement.''
   Reece's Eagle Scout project was also an impressive accomplishment. 
In 2013, the summer before he started high school, he organized a shoe 
drive and collected more than 1,000 pairs of shoes. These shoes were 
sent to people in Oklahoma displaced by tornadoes, and to refugees in 
Nicaragua and Rwanda. Reece is a testament to the Boy Scouts 
organization and all that it stands for.
   Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Reece for his remarkable 
achievements.

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