Crossing The Bridge From Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts

During the "birthday party" for the Cub and Boy Scouts of America, also known as the Blue and Gold Banquet on Jan. 21 at Clinton G. Martin Park, 21 Webelos (We'll Be Loyal Scouts) Scouts received the highest award in -- the arrow of light -- and graduated to Boy Scouts as troop leaders, family members and friends gathered for support.

With a room filled with blue and gold balloons and tablecloths, the ceremony kicked off with the presentation of colors, followed by introductory words from Cub-master Stephen Gresalfi.

“The Arrow of Light Webelo’s tonight started their journey as Tiger Cubs…as they got older, their tasks got incrementally harder, working through the requirements of the Wolf and Bear,” Gresalfi said. “They then became Weblos…they have completed their Cub Scout journey, but their scouting career continues on.”

Graduating ten-year-old Webelo Scout, Atif Akhter always thought of himself as a Boy Scout.

“I always thought I was a Boy Scout until my Scout Master [Mary O’Leary] told me I was a Cub Scout,” Akhter said. “I almost don’t want to change into a Boy Scout because I think it’s a lot more fun in Cub Scouts, but we’ll see how that goes.”

Akhter’s favorite part of the Cub Scouts was doing the activities to receive the patches and pins, but he is excited that as a Boy Scout he can do more activities, like camping without his parents.

“[My leader] Mrs. O’Leary is wonderful because she has the patience for all of us talking at the same time and she lets us have fun and she reminds us that if we want to be Boy Scouts then this is what we have to do,” Akhter said.

Another graduating Webelo scout who loves camping is 10-year-old Harrison Nettler.

"I feel awesom," Nettler said after officially becoming a Boy Scout.

Citations were given out to the Webelo Scouts by Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello, followed by the Den Awards, Arrow of Light Webelo Awards and Cub Master Awards for Leaders.

The Arrow of Light Ceremony/Bridging Ceremony was conducted by the Silver Wolf Dancers of Crew O, which included a story of the Arrow of Light and the lighting of various candles before the boys crossed the bridge from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.   

“This is one of the many traditions in scouting that hasn’t changed since I was in first-grade,” Gresalfi said. “We always look forward to the blue and gold; it’s when everyone makes sure that they’re in their best uniform and it is unique in that it is a dinner banquet…so this is more of a celebration than a meeting. I’m happy to see that nothing has changed.”

Gresalfi went through Cub-scouting himself and made his way up to the rank of Eagle. When his son, Raymond, was in first-grade, he signed him up as a Tiger Cub in Pack 544.

“[We received] the activity pin today,” said nine-year-old Cub Scout Raymond Gresalfi on behalf of himself and his friend Dylan Shmid. “We got it for, during Den meetings, we talked about fitness and did activities during fitness and we worked hard to get it.”

The ceremony came to a close after Scoutmasters Tony Gulotta of Troop 544 and Dwight Rosenstein of Troop 10 welcomed their new Scouts, followed by, again, the crossing of the colors by the Arrow of Light Weblos.

“To the Webelo’s, you always represented your pack well in your years with the pack and we are all proud of you,” Gresalfi said. “You have represented your families well, and they are proud of you, but most importantly, you have represented yourselves well, and you should be proud.”

Here is a list of the graduating Arrow of Light Weblo Scouts: Aaron Banwar, Jason Biviano, Kyle Cruz, Angelo Ferrigno, Thomas Germana, Jake Glueck, Julian Montenegro, Harrison Nettler, Joseph Sullivan, Andrew Tsao, Atif Akhter, Sean Barbaro, Jake Benn, Christopher Capodanno, James DeNara, John DeNara, Michael Kurre, Sean O’Leary, Jared Roman, Billy Schillinger and Michael Zuschlag.