Scout outing with a twist

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Brothers Daniel (left) and Nathan Courtaney, members of Scout Troop 907 in Valparaiso, held their Eagle Scout ceremony in a West Lafayette nursing home so their grandfather Dennis Courtaney could attend. | Andy Lavalley~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 11, 2012 8:30AM

More than 30 Boy Scouts and family members from Valparaiso’s Troop 907 recently headed down to West Lafayette.

It was a scout outing of a different sort — an Eagle Scout ceremony for Daniel Courtaney, 17, and Nathan Courtaney, 15, held at a nursing home so the teens’ grandfather, long active in Boy Scouts himself, could attend.

The dual ceremony was held Jan. 30 at Westminster Village. In all, almost 50 people attended; the turnout overwhelmed the Courtaney family.

Nathan said the turnout was humbling, and certainly more than anyone expected.

“You know you’re part of the troop. You know you are accepted, and you know they will be with you the whole way,” the Valparaiso High School freshman said.

The effort put forth by the troop was important, said Daniel, a junior at VHS, and certainly touched his grandfather, Dennis Courtaney.

“He was emotionally touched. He was very, very proud to see all the people come down,” Daniel said.

Brad Courtaney, the boys’ father, said his father was diagnosed with a brain tumor about a year ago. Dennis Courtaney, 80, was in the Boy Scouts in the 1940s and made it to Life Scout, one rank below Eagle Scout, the organization’s highest honor.

The elder Courtaney was involved in scouts as his son went through the program and attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

“He was very involved with me, and I always wanted my dad and mom there for the kids if they did it,” Brad Courtaney said of his dad and mom, Phyllis.

When Dennis Courtaney’s medical condition made it impossible for him to travel to Valparaiso for the ceremony, Brad Courtaney went to the troop to see what he could do.

“I did not expect people to drive down or drive up or come in from everywhere,” he said, adding he made the effort for his father. “We are so thankful for that.”

Brad and Shannon Courtaney also have two daughters, Kathleen, 19, a freshman at Purdue University, and Janci, 10, a fifth-grader at Flint Lake Elementary School.

Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts attain the rank of Eagle Scout, Shannon Courtaney said, though the percentage in Troop 907 is much higher because the troop offers so much support.

“I know it’s a great honor and I was so touched by the number of scouts who were willing to take the time on a Sunday,” she said. “It was such a treat for my boys to have so many people there.”