Monongahela resident earns Eagle Scout honor
On Jan. 11, Eugene Eckman, leading knight of the Pittsburgh South Hills Elks Lodge 2213 in Bethel Park, traveled to Monongahela to recognize and congratulate new Eagle Scout Nolan Sion of Boy Scout Troop 1448, and present him with two framed award certificates – one from the local lodge in Bethel Park and one from the national Grand Lodge in Chicago, Ill. Eckman also read a personal letter from the national leader of the Elks and presented Nolan with a U.S. flag and gold pin signifying the 80-plus years of close relationship between the Elks and Scouts. Nolan completed a community service venture known as an Eagle Project. Nolan’s project was to design and create a new memorial honoring veterans. American Legion Post 527 in Rankin is the location of this new memorial with a granite stone as the center piece, a newly erected flag pole, two benches for visitors and finished landscaping. Pictured, from left, are Beth Sion, Nolan’s mother; Nolan; Steve Sion, Nolan’s father; and Eckman.