Boy Scouts Expand with New Troop 349 in Falls Church

By Steven Valley

Troop 349 Committee Chair

Boy Scout Troop 349 was created this Spring by three Falls Church City residents — Tony Ulses, Scout Master; James Custer, Assistant Scout Master; and Steven Valley, Committee Chair — after the National Capital Area Council of Boy Scouts issued a call to the community to meet the needs of the growing number of graduating Cub Scouts in the area.

Meeting in the American Legion Post 130 on Oak Street, Troop 349 has over 19 active members.  Since it formed three months ago, the Scouts have visited Quantico and Gettysburg and met with the Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, a Falls Church City resident.

Secretary Geren took questions from the Scouts and gave the troop a tour of his office before having his picture taken with the boys next to the desk that Robert Todd Lincoln used when he was Secretary of War in 1881.

Troop 349 also took a tour of the Pentagon, visiting the 9/11 memorial and several exhibits in the building.

Troop 349 is open to any boy between the ages of 12 and 18 who has graduated from the fourth grade and/or has received his Arrow of Light award. Boys desiring to join the troop are welcome to attend a meeting and present themselves to the Scout Master for admission.

Troop 349 meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. from September to June at the American Legion Hall on Oak Street. The troop web site contains more information about joining and what Boy Scouts is all about.

Troop 349 plans to work with the Legion Post to offer support to the many City residents who served our country in times of war.

Front Row (kneeling) L to R: Timothy Gilmour – Cub Scout Pack 657, Nick Roberson, Andrew Skomra, Evan Gorman, Preston Custer.
Back Row (Standing) L to R: Matthew Valley, US Air Force Honor Guard, Truman Custer, Ian Griffin, Jack Ulses, Jonathan Gilmour, Sec. of the Army Hon, Pete Geren, Owen Miller, James Coppock, Noah Saberhagen, Davis Hagigh, Neil Johnston, US Army Honor Guard