MANSFIELD — Matthew Failor couldn’t stop the tears that came to him as he addressed Eagle Scouts at the Heart of Ohio Council Recognition Dinner on Saturday.
Dale DeGirolamo, the dinner’s Master of Ceremonies, made it clear throughout the evening that the dinner was about honoring the Eagle Scouts — but there were other awards dolled out. Scouts from all ages received awards and recognition, including the Journey to Excellence Award, Distinguished Commissioner Service Award, the Venturing Leadership Award, the Veteran Award, the Silver Beaver Award and the 2015 Eagle Scout Class Honoree — Matt Failor.
The dinner was held to honor the 123 Eagle Scouts in Ohio that earned the prestigious badge in 2015. There were 38 that attended the dinner, and it was Failor, an Eagle Scout himself since 2000, who led the audience in a raucous, standing ovation after he honored them.
Failor, a St. Peter’s graduate and Mansfield native, has participated in five Alaskan Iditarod races since 2012. Just one month ago, he finished his fifth race in 11 days, 18 hours, 54 minutes and 45 seconds, 61st place overall — out of 85 racers. He would have finished faster if it weren’t for the accident.
“I was fiddling around with my sled at a checkpoint,” Failor explained in an interview before the dinner. “I was changing my bag and putting it on a new sled. So I was kneeling down, pulled out my fixed-blade knife, cutting a Zip Tie.”
Failor said he struggled to cut the Zip Tie. In a moment, the knife slipped and stabbed one inch into his thigh. He didn’t know he was stabbed until he felt the blood wet his ankles and he couldn’t stand without paralyzing pain.
The accident happened 622 miles into the race in a village called Nikolai. A health aid bandaged his leg, gave him crutches and he went on to finish the race. But not without some motivation along the way.
As he addressed the 38 Eagle Scouts scrupulously lined up around the room, he shared with them how he learned his twelfth and final Boy Scout Law: a Scout is … reverent.
According to Boy Scout Law, “a Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.”
“I didn’t know what it meant until I saw the bald eagle soaring above my team for 100 yards as I left that town (Nikolai),” he said, fighting tears. “Then, that’s when I knew what reverent was.”
He looked each Eagle Scout in the eyes as he said, “I thought of you guys. Just like the race, this (getting an Eagle Scout badge) didn’t happen overnight. It takes work and dedication. You can’t do it in a day. Good job.”
Roaring applause and cheers from proud parents with gleaming eyes and wet cheeks filled the room.
One of those proud parents was Donna Jean Warren of Strongsville. Her son, Brandon Warren, 18, won his Eagle Scout badge in April 2015 after 14 years of participation in the Boy Scouts of America program.
“I’m very proud. Teenagers tend to not realize what it is to finish or to achieve an auspicious goal like that,” she said, who was once a Girl Scout. She said she did not get to the level her son did a year ago though.
“Only like five percent finish out as an Eagle Scout,” Brandon Warren said.
Brandon’s friend and Eagle Scout partner, Logan Keenan, said it feels amazing to have reached the goal.
“We’ve been through it all together,” he said, smiling at his friend. “And not many people earn this badge.”
