PPM (Proud Papa Moment from January 5, 2013...)
Good evening.
My name is Charles.
I am the Order of the Arrow Representative for Troop 701.
Thank you for coming to this special dinner tonight.
Tom Nestor was
a few years older than me so I did not really know him in High School. I know
he was an active soccer player and was captain of the Varsity Team. I do know
he was a natural leader.
Tom worked
at REI. There are other folks here tonight who, I am sure, can tell work
stories. I know Tommy loved working there. I know he sold me and my father lots
of camping gear. And I know it was all the right gear.
I first met
Tom right after I crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. He was the Senior
Patrol Leader. He led by example. I don’t know where to begin. I have his
letter welcoming me to the troop. He got everyone to wear their Class A’s and
show up at meetings on time with pen and paper. He knew all the knots and
lashings. He encouraged the Scouts to go on camping trips. He knew what to do
if you forgot the gas line to the propane stove. He was a master at dutch oven
cooking. He always seemed to put his tent in the spot that got the best sunset.
Sunrise was not his strong suit.
Two
particular things stick out for me:
Tom’s Eagle
Project and Philmont.
His Eagle
Project – The Flag Retirement Ceremony on the Lake and setting up Flag Collection
Boxes in Wakefield have become a permanent part of Troop 701. Getting
Wakefield’s community groups to take part in his project and to continue this
tradition is special. And know, in his honor, the Troop performs Flag Retirement
Ceremonies in town and on our camping trips.
Troop 701
was fortunate to be able to send a contingent to Philmont in 2010. Other than
Mr. Robinson, I don’t think there was anyone more excited to go than Tom. But
he was quiet about it, taking it all in. He led when he needed to lead; he
stepped back when he needed to step back; he made fun of my war on mini bears; he
sumped when sumping was needed. He had a natural attraction to hummingbirds,
which drove us all crazy. And he had those goofy toe shoes.
On one of
our last days on the trail, when we were all pretty sick of each other, Tom was
leading the way down endless switchbacks. We were bickering, complaining,
trying to decide which Monty Python movie was better. He stopped us.
He said
“Guys, shut up! We’re at Philmont. Look at what’s all around you. Take it in.”
I miss him.
