July 24, 2019
By: Bill Conger
It’s a rare accomplishment for any youth to reach the rank of Eagle, the highest honor in Boy Scouts. But the Dodge family of Smithville, Tennessee can claim four young men with that prestigious award.
The latest to reach that medal is Friedrich Dodge, who joined Scouts when at age 12 his older brother, Sebastian Dodge told him about the fantastic adventures at summer camp.
“It’s been an uphill climb, but it has been worth it,” says Dodge of his top rank. “I’ve always been a person to do my best at everything. Eagle Scout is pretty much the best in Boy Scouts. All three of my older brothers have made it to Eagle Scout. That also helped me strive for Eagle Scout.”
For his project, Friedrich rebuilt the Rotary Club sign across from the city swimming pool with the support of the City of Smithville, friends, family, and his fellow scouts.
“My Boy Scout troop helped me out so much with several different phases of the project,” he said. “I couldn’t have done the project without my troop. The boys are like my second family.”
Sebastian Dodge earned his Eagle award not that long before his younger brother, and like Friedrich, he partially pursued Scouting’s top honor because his older brothers. Alexander and Gregory earned the distinction.
“The most important thing Scouting has given me is the Scout Oath and Scout Law, which are the guidelines to my life,” Sebastian says.
Joining Scouts when he was 11, Sebastian was first a member of Troop 07 in Sparta, Wisconsin before his family moved south. Two of his favorite memories are exploring Eagle Cave in Wisconsin and working at Piedmont Scout Ranch, the Boy Scouts premier high adventure base, in the wilderness of New Mexico.
“Philmont will always hold a special place in my heart not only because of its beauty but also for what we did and the people I got to meet,” says Sebastian.
Sebastian built a foot bridge to help complete a nature trail for the Friends of the Greenway in McMinnville. For the Eagle project, he experienced the various leadership stages from planning and fundraising to delegation along with his sweat equity.
“One of the things I learned from my project is that the more effort you put into something, the more likely people will be to help you. And it’s not what you have to do; it’s who you get to do it with.”
Both Sebastian and Friedrich now are putting their Scouting abilities to use in the military. Sebastian is a 92 Foxtrot Petroleum Supply Specialist stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, AK.
“Scouting has contributed a lot to my Army success,” Sebastian says. “Scouting gave me the rank as Private Second Class. Also, it has helped going into the field with tying knots and setting up tents. Plus, Boy Scouts is like baby Army because the Army goes on ruck marches; Boy Scouts go on back pack trips.”
Friedrich is currently in Pensacola, Florida, training to be a parachute rigger for the Navy.
“I think the main skill I learned was leadership,” says Friedrich. “I’ve never been a great leader. I’ve always been a follower, but Boy Scouts took me out of that comfort zone and made me go into a new world and be a leader.”
Besides the boys, Lawrence and Penny Dodge are parents to five girls—Veronica,
Anastasia, Victoria, Christiana and the youngest, Tatianna.