"Proudly it waves:" Scout's Eagle project helps flag soar in Langhorne

Peg Quann, Bucks County Courier Times
Updated ·3 min read

When Tim Bess was in grade school, he had to decide — stick with the Boy Scouts he had joined as a "Lion Cub" in kindergarten or take up a sport and leave Scouting behind. He knew game and practice scheduling for sports wouldn't allow for the camping trips and other adventures he enjoyed.

Tim, who will graduate from Harry S Truman High School in Bristol Township next spring, choose scouts and will give an address on Veterans Day at the Jesse W. Soby American Legion Post 148 in Langhorne where a shiny new flagpole now stands, thanks to his efforts.

Boy Scout Timothy Bess stands by the flagpole that was installed at the Jesse W. Soby American Legion Post in Langhorne last month after Timothy raised the funds for its purchase and installation as an Eagle Scout project.
Boy Scout Timothy Bess stands by the flagpole that was installed at the Jesse W. Soby American Legion Post in Langhorne last month after Timothy raised the funds for its purchase and installation as an Eagle Scout project.

For his Eagle Scout project, Tim raised funds to purchase and install the 35-foot pole in the front yard of the post on West Richardson Street. With help from his friends in Troop 121 in Levittown, he held car washes and he spearheaded a Go Fund Me drive as well as contacted business owners who gave their time and talent.

Tim's dad, William Bess, is an Army veteran. When the family visited the post, they knew that the old flagpole was in bad shaped.

"It needed painting all the time. They had to get a lift to get it painted," Tim said. And the pulley to raise the American and post flags wasn't working right, so the rope they hung from would get tangled.

Boy Scout Tim Bess joins American Legion Post Commander Walt Davidson (right) and post Scout liaison Don Minnick as well as Minnick's dog, Daisy Mae, outside the Jesse W. Soby Post 148 in Langhorne where Tim raised funds for the installation of a new flagpole.
Boy Scout Tim Bess joins American Legion Post Commander Walt Davidson (right) and post Scout liaison Don Minnick as well as Minnick's dog, Daisy Mae, outside the Jesse W. Soby Post 148 in Langhorne where Tim raised funds for the installation of a new flagpole.

Tim and his mom, Jennifer, researched flagpoles and found this brushed aluminum model that could withstand the weather and had its rope inside to protect the mechanism. That's called an "internal halyard," they learned.

"This project involved multiple car washes and donations from many different people and organizations. The flagpole was purchased from Flagpoles Etc., in Michigan and transported to PA. A local contractor, M&M Masonry Restoration, was able to help with the installation of flagpole, a large landscape rock is being donated by Langhorne Quarries and the plaque is being prepared by Rodriguez Engraving in Langhorne," Tim stated in an email about the project.

More: Bucks County honors its veterans with parades, ceremonies. How to take part

The post's Scouting liaison, Don Minnick, worked for about 18 months with Tim to coordinate the project. The pole cost $4,500 and the total with shipping and installation is about $7,000. The Bess family and the post are continuing to raise funds to reach that goal.

Timothy Bess of Levittown stands by the new flagpole in front of the Jesse W. Soby American Legion Post in Langhorne. He led the effort for the post to acquire and install the pole as an Eagle Scout project.
Timothy Bess of Levittown stands by the new flagpole in front of the Jesse W. Soby American Legion Post in Langhorne. He led the effort for the post to acquire and install the pole as an Eagle Scout project.

"My family has served in the military and I wanted to do something special and worthwhile to help the veterans and my community," Tim said on the GoFundMe site.

The original pole was removed in late September and the new one installed Oct. 7. Since the old pole was dedicated to past post Commander Joseph A. Zalot, a plaque will be unveiled commemorating that dedication, with Tim's name and the date of his Eagle Scout project added to the plaque has been added to the large rock placed by the pole.

Post Commander Walt Davidson said seeing the flags wave from the new flagpole for the first time was a welcome view. "It was the brightest thing on the block. It really stood out when you came around the corner."

At the Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Tim will be asked to speak. "I'm not really a speech person," he said. "But I'll go through with it."

This plaque at the base of a new flagpole at the Jesse W. Soby American Legion Post in Langorne commemorates former Post Commander Joseph Zalot Sr. in whose memory the original flagpole was dedicated. The pole was acquired through an Eagle Scout project of Scout Timothy Bess of Levittown Troop 121.
This plaque at the base of a new flagpole at the Jesse W. Soby American Legion Post in Langorne commemorates former Post Commander Joseph Zalot Sr. in whose memory the original flagpole was dedicated. The pole was acquired through an Eagle Scout project of Scout Timothy Bess of Levittown Troop 121.

Tim is concerned about the future of Scouting since not as many kids are getting involved these days. He's very glad he stuck with it and, hopefully, will be made an Eagle Scout in the spring after he finishes up the paperwork about his project.

"This has shaped him into who he is," his mother said.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Boy Scout from Bristol Township keeps flags flying at Langhorne post