At the annual New York State Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention held in Albany this summer, Eagle Scout Ryan Cannon of Troop 17 St. Rose of Lima Church, Short Hills, was honored as the New York State Veterans of Foreign Wars “Scout of the Year.”
Cannon, a resident of Millburn and a rising senior at Millburn High School, was selected from the more than 400 VFW posts in New York State after District 1 VFW -- which encompasses Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties -- selected him as its finalist. And, the New York State VFW selection committee elected to bestow the New York State honor upon Cannon, although he resides in New Jersey.
The basis for the selection was to honor him “as an extraordinary Scout who has delivered over the years exemplary service and contributions not only within his home state of New Jersey, but to communities in Texas, South Florida, Puerto Rico, as well the Breezy Point, New York, community that serves as the home of our VFW Post,” said VFW Post 8540 commander Kevin McCann.
Last winter, Cannon organized and led a work force of 60 volunteers, mostly fellow Scouts, for six days during school break. The crew spent nearly 600 service hours renovating the American Legion Hall in Millburn.
Earlier this year, the efforts of Cannon and fellow Eagle Scout Jamie Serruto were featured in Boys Life. The two Scouts were successful in renaming a street adjacent to the Short Hills Mall “Fineran Way” in honor of their troop’s deceased Scoutmaster, who served the troop for 36 years.
And, in May, Cannon served as the Millburn Township Memorial Day coordinator and master of ceremonies, reviving the annual Memorial Day Parade in the municipality. As coordinator, he rallied more than 30 organizations and had over 1,000 marchers in attendance.
In Breezy Point, Cannon has delivered refreshments and assisted veterans during the Wounded Warriors (and now the Hope for the Warriors) aquatic weekends for the last six years. He also has assisted the VFW with its Poppy Drive, sold T-shirts and participated in fundraising in front of the Breezy stores for the yearly warrior weekend, participated in the welcoming parade and raised the American flag at the annual Christ Community Church Memorial Day ceremony.
The impact of Hurricane Sandy on the Cannon family and the Breezy Point community resonated heavily on the Scout and so after hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, he worked to raise $7,000 in relief funds for the victims in Houston, the Florida Keys and Puerto Rico.
This year, Cannon was elected as the senior patrol leader of Troop 17. He is a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, has attended the 2016 Conclave at the Guajataka Scout Reservation in Puerto Rico and the National Order of Arrow Conference in Indiana. He also participated in the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base in 2016 and attended the 2017 National Jamboree and led a contingent of Northern New Jersey Boys Scouts to the World Jamboree as assistant senior patrol in West Virginia.
He has earned 76 merit badges to date, has received the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII religious awards, as well as citizenship medals from the Sons of the American Revolution and American Legion. In June, he completed New Jersey Boy’s State, a leadership and citizenship program sponsored by the American Legion.
“Ryan was one of the final nominees from the 50 States, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands seeking recognition as the VFW National Scout of the Year with a chance to receive a college scholarship. The Pfc. John G. McLaughlin Post 8540 is extremely proud that NYS committee selected Ryan to represent NYS as our Scout of the Year on the basis of his impressive accomplishments, clear leadership and the impact he has delivered to so many communities over the years,” McCann said.