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The 2003
Award Recipient, Brian Eiffes
The David S. Ward Patriot Prize is named after David S. Ward
who served in the U.S. Army in Germany and France in 1951
and 1952. Upon returning from the service, Mr. Ward received
a chemical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee.
Mr. Ward, who passed away in December, 2002, understood the
value of service and served his nation well. In addition to
his military service, Mr. Ward was a lifelong, active member
of St. Anne Episcopal Church in Tennessee. A Boy Scout when
he was young, Mr. Ward remained involved in scouting and went
on to become a Scoutmaster later in life. The first David
S. Ward Patriot Prize was presented to Brian Eiffes who has
followed in David Ward’s footsteps. Twelve-year-old
Brian is currently a Boy Scout in Troop 32 at St. James Parish
in Arlington Heights, Illinois. In addition to his own work
as a scout, he works with older scouts on their Eagle Scout
public service projects. A musician, Brian began learning
to play (by ear) the piano at the age of three. Four years
ago, he took up the trumpet and now plays in the St. James
School Band, as well as the Mount Prospect Sousa Band, which
gathers community musicians from ages ten to adulthood. He
also is a member of the variety show crew at St. James School.
When the school conducted a 9/11 commemoration service, Brian
closed out the event with a touching performance of Taps.
It was not the first time Brian had played Taps;
he had taught himself how to play it when his grandfather
passed away. The David S. Ward Patriot Prize was presented
to Brian in recognition of the active and purposeful citizenship
he practices each and every day of his life.
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