In left photo, Father Christopher Markellos of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Williamstown, stands with Eagle Scout Ryan Coe.
Ryan Coe, son of Richard and Patricia Coe of Williamstown, attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank awarded in the Boy Scouts of America. He received the award at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor held on Oct. 23, in Williamstown.
Guests attending the ceremony included Father Christopher Markellos of Our Lady of Peace Parish, himself an Eagle Scout, and Deacon John Leyden of Our Lady of Peace Parish, who baptized Ryan 18 years ago. Congressman Robert Andrews presented Ryan with a Certificate of Achievement at the ceremony.
Ryan is a member of Boy Scout Troop 70 in Williamstown. The rank of Eagle is attained by only 3 percent of all Scouts.
For his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, Ryan coordinated watercourse navigation improvements and a clean up effort in an environmentally sensitive area of the Great Egg Harbor River corridor in New Brooklyn Park, Winslow Township, Camden County. The project required extensive planning and water safety precautions, as most of the work was done in canoes and in the water.
Ryan led a group of 12 volunteers who devoted, collectively, 239 work hours to the project. The volunteers removed numerous obstructions in the watercourse so that visitors can safely canoe or kayak from the canoe launch in the Park and continue their journey to New Brooklyn Lake. Additionally, a large amount of trash, debris and tires were removed from the area.
Fred Akers, the River administrator of the Great Egg Harbor River Council, provided guidance for Ryan’s project. The River Council provided a grant to fund the project. Maggie Lieb, Environmental Educator of the Camden County Parks Department, coordinated the necessary governmental approvals for the project.
Ryan is a senior at Williamstown High School, and an active member of the Youth Group at Our Lady of Peace Parish.