Limb Deficient Youth Earns Eagle Scout Award

May 9, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) On May 26, 2007, Zachary James Foster will be honored for having earned the Eagle Scout award, the highest advancement rank in Scouting. Only 2 in 100 scouts will achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. This is especially significant since Zach did it with only one arm; he was born missing his right forearm. That obviously did not stop him. As a member of Boy Scout Troop 423, Zach has earned merit badges in such taxing physical skills as canoeing, rowing, swimming, and horseback riding. He also completed the arduous Mile Swim twice. With the use of a prosthesis, he has rappelled down cliffs, gone rock climbing, boulder jumping, practiced archery, gymnastics and learned to tap dance.

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a boy scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills by earning at least 21 merit badges. Zach earned 24 merit badges. Not satisfied with just scouting, he volunteers for “A Touch of Love,” a support group for limb deficient children, and for Congressman David Drier’s office. Zach is a member of the nationally acclaimed Bonita High School Chamber Singers, has taken mostly Honors or Advanced Placement classes in high school, has learned to read and write Spanish fluently, is in the Bonita Book and Kung Fu Movie Clubs. Zach is now teaching himself Japanese because he is also in the Anime Club.

Zach’s Eagle Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 26, at 11:00 a.m., at the Via Verde Country Club in San Dimas. For more information on limb deficient support groups, contact “A Touch of Love” at 1(800) 493-5462. For more information on scouting, contact San Gabriel Valley Council at (626) 351-8815.