Westwood Teen, Eagle Scout Honored

Another aspiring Eagle Scout from Westwood has received his wings. 

Ryan Dukeman, a student and member of the Westwood Boy Scouts Troop 3, was recently honored for obtaining the Eagle Scout rank among 114 other scouts at the Boston Minuteman Council Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner in Wakefield.

To reach the rank, for his Eagle Scout project, Dukeman worked with the Westwood Veterans Services Department and spoke with nearly 200 veterans in the Westwood area to compile a 100-page book explaining their stories.

The project, of which services in 2010, took about six months to complete, and through the interviews he had with veterans, Dukeman collected photos and memorabilia for the book.

"Simply put, I got so many wonderful things out of the project," Dukeman told Westwood Patch. "Getting to meet or hear from over 180 local veterans, with such a wide range of military and personal experiences, is something I will never forget." 

The book is titled "Westwood Veteran's Memorial Park: The Stories Behind the Names on the Bricks," and compiles the research and findings Dukeman collected through his project. The bricks that surround Westwood's Veterans Park are engraved with the names of Veterans from town.

The book, which can be downloaded as a PDF file here, can also be found at , the and the Carby Street Municipal Building. It is also included in Westwood's time capsule, which is located at Veteran's Park.

"Reading in the same morning about a Korean War medic who had to tell his dying friends that they'd be okay, knowing there was nothing that could be done, and an Iraq war veteran who joined after 9/11 and performed three tours of duty for his country, was moving and inspiring to me," Dukeman said, "and I hope to those who have read some of their stories as well."

Dukeman was even able to include the stories of both his grandfathers in the project, capturing his family's own history. But he said the experience also helped him gain some skill on an organizational level, as he had to manage a number of items at once. 

"There were dozens of people who volunteered for my project," Dukeman said, "and because of the technical nature of the project, only certain people could help with certain phases. Having the experience of managing the project from its inception to completion was unique for someone of my age, and I never would have had that opportunity without joining the Scouts."

Looking back on his time as a Scout in Westwood, Dukeman said he wouldn't change a thing. 

"Byeond the achievements of earning all my badges and getting all my requirements, to me [the Eagle Scout rank] represents the zenith and fruition of a Scouting program that has been part of my life since first grade, and which continues today," he said. "Scouting has given me such a wide range of things to try which I might never have been exposed to - my love of the outdoors, the sense of tight-knit community, a dedication to service, and some of my best friends were all introduced to me through the Scouting program."