Two local scouts, Aidan Wiecki and Zach Skiles, both of Bristow, were recently awarded the Boy Scouts of America Honor Medal for acts of heroism in saving a life in a joint ceremony at Battlefield High School.
Wiecki and Skiles, both dual-enrolled with Sea Scout Ship 100 and Boy Scout Troop 1882, assisted in rescuing a passenger from a car 4:30 a.m. June 14 that hit a concrete median divider on Interstate 495 at full speed and burst into flames. The boys were on their way to a sailing event.
"The Scouts and their adult leaders followed the first aid training they received through the Boy Scouts to make the best decisions regarding whether to remove a semi-conscious passenger from the car and how to treat the victims," BSA spokesperson Aaron Chusid said. "They were able to safely assist and get the passenger to safety and also helped clear debris and converted a pickup truck bed into a safe place for the victims to rest while waiting for emergency medical responders."
Both the driver and passenger were hospitalized and survived despite their injuries.
Furthermore, the boys helped emergency responders with controlling the public and shielding the victims from the gathering bystanders.
"We're certainly proud of the boys," Zachary's father Todd said. " It would have been easier to drive by, and let someone else address the situation, but they knew to 'do a good turn daily.'"
According to the BSA, the Honor Medal is given to a youth or an adult who has demonstrated "unusual heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at considerable risk to self."
The BSA has awarded the honor to less than .002% of all Boy Scouts since it was initiated in 1923.
Ship 100 is chartered by the Knights of Columbus at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Troop 1882 is chartered by the American Legion Post 1799 and meets at Haymarket Baptist Church.
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