Boy Scout Caleb Koyn now understands the power of a "good turn."

A couple of Saturdays ago, Koyn and fellow Scouts from Steilacoom's Troop 71 gathered at the Cadence Fellowship House (CFH) in Tillicum to help Koyn complete his Eagle Scout Service Project.

Maj. Brian Koyn, 7th Infantry Division deputy chaplain, is the troop's scoutmaster and Caleb's dad; Maj. Paul Hickerson, operations officer, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, is one of the troop's assistant scoutmasters.

"He's doing a good job," remarked Drew Estep, an Eagle Scout, as he uncoiled an electrical cord.

"I think this is a good project to be involved with."  

Good has a history.

The Boy Scouts traces its history back to the beginning of the 20th century and British Army officer Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell.

His notion of preparing young men for the challenges of life made its way to America through William Boyce.

On business in London and walking to an appointment, Boyce became lost in the fog.  A boy appeared and helped him find his destination.

When Boyce attempted to tip the boy, the boy refused, saying that he was a Scout and could not accept payment for a good turn.

Intrigued, Boyce subsequently learned of and met Baden-Powell.  Their meeting led Boyce to return to America with the idea of beginning the Scouts. In February 1910, he incorporated the Boy Scouts of America.

That unknown boy's "good turn" helped Boyce make a lasting contribution.  

Koyn's Eagle Project is doing the same for the Cadence House.

"He is more involved than in just doing something to complete his Eagle Project," continued Estep, as he used a power sander to smooth down a wooden bench.  

"He wants to make a lasting contribution to the community."

Koyn began planning for his project in August.

"He did a nice job of planning all of this," commented Hickerson.

"He talked a great deal about it; he kept the troop informed.  He talked the plan, now he's working the plan."

Tad and Cindy Aldrich, the CFH's directors, thought so, too.

The organization shares the gospel with the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community.

"We share the Good News about Christ's forgiveness and love," explained Aldrich.

It is a place where servicemembers can find home-cooked meals, acceptance and Bible studies.

"He has a very good plan; he is a wonderful young man," continued Aldrich, as he watched the work.

He went on to say that this was the first time he had worked with Boy Scouts."

"I have to say that I am impressed with him and with the Scouts here today."

Koyn, his fellow scouts and some parents, worked on three projects - building a retaining wall around an oak tree, sanding down the benches surrounding a fire pit, and tearing down and replacing a wall on an outside building.

"I picked this project because I like the work Cadence does for servicemembers and their families," Koyn wrote in an earlier email.

"We are just doing our part to take some of the tasks off of their shoulders. When I started to work on my project, I didn't want to be just another bench builder. I wanted to do something more."

A grant to CFH from Cadency International paid for the materials used in the project.

By the time they finished this past Saturday, Koyn's 285 hours of planning and work on his project paid off.

"We had tons of help, and the main goal of allowing the Cadence House to continue its ministry was met," Koyn concluded.

One good turn eventually leads to another.