[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12714-12715]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING BOY SCOUT TROOP 772

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Murphy) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
outstanding group from my district, Boy Scout Troop 772 of Fort Pierce, 
Florida.
  Troop 772 was established last year at Dan McCarty Middle School as a 
community effort to keep young men in the area engaged in positive 
afterschool activities by providing support and guidance. Troop 772 is 
no ordinary Boy Scout troop. It is much more.
  For too long, Fort Pierce has been plagued by gangs, by rampant 
violent crime that has taken the lives of neighbors and colleagues, 
friends and loved ones. For the young men of Troop 772, this violence 
isn't just something they see on the television or hear about in the 
abstract. It is the terrifying reality they face every day of their 
lives.

[[Page 12715]]

  I want to share what these Scouts have said about what it is like in 
their community in their own words: ``I want you to get rid of gangs in 
my community. I want to be able to wear any colors I want without 
having to change. It would be good to go a week or so without hearing a 
gunshot. We will be better if people stop fighting.''
  When I hear this, I am both saddened and outraged. No one--let alone 
our youth--should have to live in constant fear of violence, but at the 
same time, I am hopeful. What brings me hope for Fort Pierce is Troop 
772. Troop 772 was born out of violence, but in them, I see a solution 
to that violence.
  When Troop 772 was just an idea, there was a lot of skepticism. There 
was skepticism about whether the troop could move these young men away 
from the violence and into their community, but the troop, the 
community, and, in particular, the adult leadership of the troop has 
given much-needed support to these young men.
  They have been a constant presence in the lives of these Scouts at a 
time when they need them the most, at a time when others in their 
community would only do them harm. It is clear that this troop will 
help make the community a safer and better place to live.
  These young men who had struggled or had bad behavior are starting to 
thrive as a result of Troop 772 and the positive environment it 
provides.
  Earlier this year, I was privileged to visit with the troop and see 
their hard work and dedication firsthand while they worked on a local 
environmental project.
  It is this kind of hard work and commitment that will help these 
young men succeed and become the leaders of tomorrow. It is this kind 
of hard work and commitment that has brought Troop 772 to Washington 
today to receive their Citizenship in the Nation merit badges. It is 
truly an honor to recognize them with this major accomplishment and the 
dedication that has brought them here.
  I also want to take a moment to recognize all of those individuals 
who helped them reach this monumental point today. I want to thank 
Scoutmaster Rusty Hines and Assistant Scoutmasters Dan Hafner and Bob 
Taylor for teaching Troop 772 leadership and Scouting skills, as well 
as for making the Scouting experience so enjoyable for these young men.
  Thanks to all of the members of the community who helped make this 
trip of a lifetime possible and State Representative Larry Lee, Jr., 
and St. Lucie County Commissioner Kim Johnson for showing their 
continued support of these young men by joining them here today.
  Of course, I also want to thank Scott Van Duzer, who made Troop 772 a 
reality. Through his Van Duzer Foundation, his dedication to helping 
these young men and bettering our community is unwavering. Our 
community will be forever grateful for all of their work, which has 
touched so many lives and inspired an entire community.
  Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank the Scouts of the troop. 
Our community is so proud of what they have achieved, individually and 
together. This troop is a testament to what can be accomplished when 
youth are given the chance to succeed.

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