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Photograph by George Sakkestad
In choosing to design and supervise construction of this cross at Saratoga Presbyterian Church, Joel Garrigues' interest in the church and in the Boy Scout movement converged.
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Eagle Scout pays tribute to his church Joel Garrigues earns top rank
By Shari Kaplan
As Saratogan Joel Garrigues was growing up, two of the organizations that most shaped his life were the Saratoga Presbyterian Church and the Boy Scouts of America. Now, every time he goes to church, he sees a tangible reminder of this--in the form of a 12-foot by 30-inch colored mosaic cross.
The 17-year-old Westmont High School junior organized the construction and installation of the cross as the community service project necessary to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank a Boy Scout can obtain. In deciding to become an Eagle, Joel showed his dedication to the Scouting movement. In choosing a project that benefited his church, he showed his dedication to his faith, which also happens to be one of the cornerstones of Scouting.
Joel became a Cub Scout in the second grade, then moved on to Boy Scouts around the fifth grade. "I really like the camaraderie--making friends and getting to hang out with your buddies. I also like the traveling; I've been quite a few places with my troop," he says, citing a spelunking expedition in Calaveras County's Moaning Cavern and a camping trip at Camp Cherry Valley on Catalina Island as two of his favorites.
Last summer, Joel approached the Rev. Richard Spencer, pastor of the Saratoga Presbyterian Church, to gather ideas for possible Eagle projects. Among them was the construction of a cross for the outside of the church, but it took a while for the idea to gel. "It was like 'no way, I can't do that!'" Joel recalls thinking. "Then I thought about it for a couple months, and then I thought I'd give it a try.
"Looking at it in the beginning, I thought of how hard it was going to be. But I learned quite a bit doing this project, and I got really into it. I guess I proved myself wrong!" he adds.
His main challenge was working with mild dyslexia, which he says is "just enough to be a nuisance," especially with all the reading and writing the project entailed. He didn't let the nuisance hinder his progress, however.
From start to finish, the project involved Joel in many ways: he designed the cross's style, recruited volunteers from his troop for the physical work and sought creative expertise from local artists Judy Marshall and Joan Spencer, the latter the wife of Rev. Spencer. Joel also made arrangements with companies that provided tile and other raw materials and held meetings with his work crew to keep them moving along at the proper rate.
"The Eagle Scout award is as much about leadership as about personal achievement. Taking on such a complex project was a real test of Joel's abilities," says Rev. Spencer, who has known the Garrigues family for years. "The success of the project depended in part on recruiting and coordinating the assistance of others. Joel came through with flying colors. He's strong and very bright."
Although not yet sure what he's going to do career- or college-wise after graduating with the class of 2000, Joel does know his future will involve scouting. In fact, he already has plans to become a Merit Badge Counselor. "I'm going to be around for a while; they can't get rid of me that easily," he says with a chuckle.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
