NEWBERRY — A number of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts took part in badge sessions during Eclipsefest where they could receive a customized eclipse badge presented by astronaut Don Thomas during a ceremony held Saturday.
“It was important for you Boy and Girl Scouts to have the opportunity to earn a badge that was strictly for you, and that’s what’s amazing. I can guarantee you that nobody else in the country is going to have that patch on their vest and you can show it to your grandkids who will see the next eclipse. All of those things you had on your list, you persevered and got it done,” said Molly Fortune, executive director at the Newberry Opera House.
Thomas has had the opportunity to take part in four space missions during his 20-year career with NASA, spent a total of 44 days in space and went around the Earth 692 times.
“It really started with me in scouting, I was a Cub scout. My family moved to another city that unfortunately didn’t have scouting, so I didn’t continue on with the Boy Scouts. It’s a great, great program that teaches great leadership skills and a whole host of other skills,” Thomas said. “I commend all of our students for all of the hard work they have been doing. I know you had a long list of things to accomplish, but I think it is outstanding that you were able to do that.”
Thomas told the audience of how he became an astronaut and how he was declined multiple times before finally fulfilling his goal of becoming an astronaut on the fourth attempt of applying.
“There was another astronaut selection, this was number four. I sent my application in, got called up for the medical testing and interviews and it was maybe a month later I got another phone call from NASA and they told me that I had made it,” said Thomas. “Never, ever give up. I think that everyone here has already learned that in scouting, to not give up, keep working hard every day. In all your subjects in school, whatever you’re working on give it your best effort and never give up on your dream, whatever it is you want to do in your life.”
Girl Scout member Annalise Byrne of Whitmire is one scout members who received the personalized eclipse badge.
“We had to go around Newberry and complete different activities and have people sign off on them saying we completed each activity and we had to turn it in to be able to get our badge,” said Byrne. “It was actually really cool to get my badge from an astronaut, because I hadn’t actually seen a real astronaut before.”
Byrne added her favorite activity she had to complete to obtain her badge were the stomp rockets in Memorial Park.
Megan of Irmo was another Girl Scout who received a badge.
“It was fun. We got to make different stuff and explore,” said Megan.
Despite all of the activities to be completed, Megan said her favorite part was receiving her badge from an actual astronaut.
“It was pretty amazing, it felt really good. I may go to space one day,” said Megan.
