LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring James Austin Decker upon the occasion of
his designation as recipient of the John Falatyn Youth Leadership in
Service Award by the Rip Van Winkle Council Boys Scouts of America

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those young people within the great Empire State who have
made strong contributions to their communities and who serve as role
models for their peers; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor James Austin
Decker upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the John
Falatyn Youth Leadership in Service Award by the Rip Van Winkle Council
Boys Scouts of America on Thursday, November 12, 2009; and
WHEREAS, James Decker is an Eagle Scout from Troop 8, sponsored by the
Sawkill Fire Company in Sawkill; he joined Scouting in the Tiger Cub
program with Pack 4, earning his Arrow of Light in 2004, and as a Scout
in Troop 8, he has earned 40 Merit Badges, his Bronze and Gold Eagle
Palms, advanced through the ranks from Assistant Patrol Leader to Patrol
Leader, Quartermaster, Den Chief, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and
ultimately became Senior Patrol Leader; and
WHEREAS, During his Scouting career, James Decker has had the opportu-
nity to attend several Scouting Activities and travel with his Troop; he
has attended Camp Tri-Mount, Camp Sikorsky, Camp Henderson, Winter Trek
at Mt. Norris Scout Reservation in Vermont, and most recently the Patri-
ot's Path Council Centennial Jamboree in New Jersey; he also was CIT in
2008 and a Staff Member in 2009 as the Sports Director at Camp Tri-Mount
Scout Reservation; and
WHEREAS, While on Staff, James Decker also earned his BSA Lifeguard
and CPR Certifications; he was selected to attend the 2010 National
Jamboree with the Rip Van Winkle Council contingency and subsequently
elected to the position of Senior Patrol Leader; and
WHEREAS, James Decker has been active in the Order of the Arrow Half
Moon Lodge No. 28 as a Brotherhood Member; he has served as Troop 8's OA
Representative, Ceremonial Team Member, and currently the Lodge Secre-
tary; he is currently a Junior at Kingston High School, and has played
Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball, Kingston Area Soccer and current-
ly, High School Soccer, Ski Club and several intramural sporting activ-
ities; and
WHEREAS, James Decker has volunteered his time as an Altar Server and
has trained younger servers, assisted in the coaching of youth baseball,
soccer and football, and numerous Veteran's service activities for which
he has been awarded Ulster Detachment Marine Corps League Citizenship
Awards; he plans to attend Boys State in the upcoming year and go on to
college pursuing a career in Forestry and Wildlife Management, and
intends to remain active in Scouting as an Adult Leader, currently serv-
ing as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 8; and
WHEREAS, James Decker is a credit to his family, school, community,
and his State and Nation, and it is certain that his future will be
filled with accomplishments of equal importance; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor James Austin Decker upon the occasion of his designation as recip-
ient of the John Falatyn Youth Leadership in Service Award; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to James Austin Decker.