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Lodge to honor former Boy Scout

Past area BSA council president keynote speaker

KODAK Digital Still Camera

LEWISTOWN–The Lewistown Rotary Club hosted speaker Wes Miller, past president of the Juniata Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Tuesday, at the Rec Center in Lewistown. During his presentation, Miller spoke about John Kriner, a long-time supporter of the Boy Scouts, and his son, John M. Kriner II, or John John as his friends called him.

Kriner II, an active Boy Scout and community member, was born with Down syndrome, but according to Miller, his disabilities never stopped him from meeting new people and trying new things.

“John Kriner Sr. believed that the best way to make a man out of a boy was through the scouting program,” Miller said. “It was through that, that he really worked hard to get John John involved with that.”

After becoming an Eagle Scout and serving as a unit commissioner and camp commissioner, Kriner II became known for his passion for scouting. However, Kriner II passed away in 2011 at the age of 53, so the Boy Scouts are aiming to carry on his legacy by expanding programs and establishing a new lodge in his name. According to Miller, John John’s passion will live on through the state of the art John M. Kriner II Lodge at the Seven Mountains Scout Camp in Centre County.

Miller stated that the the lodge will feature more space for rooms and activities and everything will be handicap accessible. Additionally, the lodge will provide more opportunities for both boys and girls in science, technology, engineering and math.

“This facility will really help us to do what John set out to do, and that is to provide opportunities for the youth and families to take advantage of the scouting programs,” Miller said.

The construction of the lodge will cost approximately $625,000, however Miller noted that nearly $515,000 has been raised from private and public donations as well as from the local Boy Scouts’ board of directors. The project still needs additional funding, but Miller is confident that with some more hard work, the money will be raised.

“We believe the legacy of this thing will go on and continue to benefit the youth and the families of our communities for years to come,” Miller said. “This story is compelling enough that it’s not a matter of if you want to give or not, it’s a matter of how much you want to give.”

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