Boy Scout Troop 325
Scoutmaster Minute
A Very Good Deed
October 9, 2007
From an article appearing in USA Today
Larry Polyak, Scoutmaster

Justin Wotasik of Irvine, California was one of the 13 charter members in Boy Scout Troop 444 and the first in the troop to receive his Eagle Scout Award. He joined the Air Force at age 17, and served in the 66th Rescue Squadron, an elite unit whose motto is: "These things we do so that others may live." Members are trained to slip their helicopters into hostile territory, flying low under radar in all weather conditions to rescue downed or stranded military comrades and bring them home alive. It was on a practice flight for just that kind of mission that Justin lost his own life at age 19.

An awards dinner honoring Boy Scouts and local Iraq war veterans was held at a convention center in Lancaster, California, on April 21st. The evening's special guests were Gary and Julie Wotasik, Justin's parents. It was attended by many local citizens, including Rex Parris, a civil attorney.

Rex Parris knew what to do the moment his wife leaned over and whispered in his ear.

The evening's climactic event was the auction of a U.S. battle flag that had flown over the embattled Iraqi city of Fallujah. Proceeds would go to the Boy Scouts. As bidding began, Carroll Parris leaned over to her husband, and whispered in his ear, "You should buy that for the parents,"

Several people started bidding on the flag. As the bidding got higher and higher, the room got quieter and quieter. At $10,000, he and a local physician were the only ones still bidding. Parris' final bid of $17,000 transfixed the room.

The lawyer was announced the winner. He walked up, gathered the flag in its wooden case, walked over to the table where Justin's family sat, and handed the flag to Julie Wotasik as tears flowed and the room resonated with applause. Parris says his decision to purchase the flag was his way of honoring soldiers killed in Iraq, and celebrating the life of an Eagle Scout who was preparing to serve his country.

"I knew it was the right thing to do," he said.