Thursday, October 1, 2026
For Garrett Reid, earning the rank of Eagle Scout marked the end of years of hard work, leadership and service. For his father, Scott, it was also the culmination of years watching his son grow from a young scout into a leader.
Garrett, 18, a Lynbrook resident, a recent Lynbrook High School graduate and a member of Troop 336, earned scouting’s highest rank after completing a service project for the Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church thrift shop in Lynbrook, where he helped replace a deteriorating shed used to house donations.
Garrett officially became an Eagle in June 2025, but waited to be recognized at an Eagle Court of Honor so he could celebrate alongside three friends from the troop who also earned the rank, Aidan Mailman, Jack Murray and Ryan Stanton.
The four were recognized at a Court of Honor at Lynbrook Village Hall on May 13, where family members, troop leaders and local elected officials, including Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach and Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, celebrated their accomplishments.
“I would credit my dad,” Garrett said. “He was very helpful.”
Balancing school, sports and the work required to become an Eagle Scout wasn’t always easy, he said, and his father provided some needed encouragement. “He put good, helpful pressure on me to get it done,” Garrett said. “It was motivational for me.”
Scott Reid’s involvement in scouting began when Garrett was in sixth grade. He was a Cub Scout leader before becoming an assistant scoutmaster of Troop 336 six years ago.
“I wanted to not only help the Scouts’ mission and purpose, but be there with my son and help him achieve ranks and get leadership positions,” Scott said.
Scott, who grew up in New Jersey and has lived in Lynbrook for about 20 years, said he has enjoyed raising his family in a community that strongly supports scouting. “The community is very engaged,” he said, noting the involvement of parents and village officials.
Becoming an Eagle Scout requires progressing through a series of ranks and earning more than 20 merit badges while developing skills in conservation and wilderness survival as well as citizenship. As Scouts advance, Scott said, they take on leadership roles and teach younger members.
Garrett served as a patrol leader, and later took on a larger responsibility during a trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. As a crew leader, he helped guide other scouts through the backcountry using a map and compass, planned where they would set up camp and organized responsibilities such as preparing meals. That leadership experience helped prepare him for one of the final requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout: planning and leading a community service project.
Garrett wanted to help the thrift shop at Our Lady of Peace, a parish he knew from playing Catholic Youth Organization basketball. He had gotten to know Sister Barbara Faber at the church, and learned that a metal shed outside the thrift shop, used to house donations dropped off while the shop was closed, had deteriorated.
“It fills up all the time,” Scott Reid said. “It was starting to rust, and if clothes were near the rusty areas, they were getting ruined.”
Garrett decided to replace it.
Initially, he expected that he and his fellow scouts would have to build a new shed, but while planning the project, he found the original supplier, SteelSheds.us, which was still in business in Farmingdale. The company agreed to assemble the replacement at no charge.
The unexpected change became its own lesson in project management. “As much as you make a plan, things never go exactly to the plan,” Scott said. “You have to be flexible to get everything accomplished.”
Garrett and four younger scouts still had plenty to do. They carefully dismantled the rusted structure, painted the replacement inside and out and installed shelving.
For Garrett, painting was the toughest part. “I am not a big painting guy,” he said. Removing the old shed also required care, because it was deteriorated and rusted.
But when they were finished, the thrift shop had a new place to keep donations dry and protected.
Garrett said that completing the project reinforced lessons he had been learning throughout his years in scouting. “I think a lot of skills in scouting are very applicable to other things in life — hard work, work ethic and people skills,” he said. “Organizing a project like this takes a lot of work.”
Scott said that watching Garrett and his peers reach Eagle is especially rewarding because they have done so while balancing academics, sports, music and other commitments. Next month, Garrett will begin his freshman year at Ohio State University.
“To see the Scouts persevere and achieve the requirements of Eagle Scout is a thing about dedication and commitment,” his father said. “There are so many things competing for our time and attention.”
For Garrett, his father’s encouragement was part of what helped him succeed.
“Scouts are more prepared for life,” Scott added.
