[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1272]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL DeBONIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2000

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a 
distinguished young man, Michael DeBonis, for attaining the rank of 
Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Michael is a member of Boy 
Scout Troop 69. He will receive this award at an Eagle Scout Court of 
Honor at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 20, 2000 at the Hobart Scout 
Cabin, located in Hobart, Indiana.
  Boy Scout Troop 69 was founded at St. Bridget Church in Hobart, 
Indiana. Since its founding in 1957, Boy Scout Troop 69 has become one 
of the most successful scout troops in Northwest Indiana. Since 1987, 
fifteen boys from this troop have achieved the prestigious rank of 
Eagle Scout. Only an elite group of Boy Scouts attain the Eagle Scout 
ranking, which is the highest of seven rankings in the Boy Scouts of 
America organization. In order to become an Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout 
must complete the following three tasks: earn 21 merit badges; complete 
a service project; and demonstrate strong leadership skills within the 
troop.
  Scout Master Robert Bell must take credit for much of this success. 
He has been Scout Master of Troop 69 since 1987 and is directly 
responsible for the excellent program which has led to the development 
of such fine young men. Mr. Bell devotes significant time to scouting 
and has displayed qualities of personal understanding, dedication to 
youth and advocacy for their cause, which has made his troop and his 
entire community very proud. The following are the names of the Eagle 
Scouts who have come from Troop 69 since Bob Bell has been Scout 
Master: George E. Murchek, 1987; William Guinee, 1987; Robert W. Bell, 
1988; David Strickley, 1988; Michael Murchek, 1989; Michael Stewart, 
1990; Richard Duirda, 1991; Richard A. Sapper, III, 1992; Joel 
Detterline, 1993; Dennis King, 1995; Eric Stage, 1995; Chad Wolf, 1998; 
Jeremiah Jackson, 1999; Philip Sirota, 1999; and Michael DeBonis, 1999.
  The most recent addition to this list, Michael DeBonis, began in 
scouting as a Tiger Cub in the first grade. He attended St. Bridget 
School in Hobart, and is currently attending Andrean High School in 
Merrillville, Indiana, where he will graduate this June. Michael has 
served in several positions of responsibility in scouting and was twice 
Senior Patrol Leader of his troop. Michael also won the Arrow of Life 
and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow.
  Michael attained the rank of Eagle Scout in conjunction with his 
academic and athletic achievements at Andrean High School. He served as 
Captain of the Andrean High School Quiz Bowl Team, which won the 
Indiana State Championship in 1998, and was runner-up in 1999. Michael 
has also been named an All-Star on Andrean's various academic teams and 
has won numerous awards as a member of the Andrean Academic Superbowl 
Teams in Social Studies, Science and Interdisciplinary. Additionally, 
he plays Defensive Tackle on the Varsity Football Team at Andrean. 
Michael has achieved all of these accomplishments and yet has 
maintained an A average at Andrean and is a National Merit Scholarship 
Semi-Finalist.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in congratulating Michael DeBonis for his commendable achievement. 
His parents, Tony and Shelia DeBonis, can be proud of their son because 
it takes a great deal of tenacity and devotion to achieve such an 
illustrious ranking. This young man has a promising future ahead of 
him, which will undoubtedly include improving the quality of life in 
Indiana's First Congressional District.

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