For almost 20 years, a Columbus scoutmaster never had the opportunity to recognize one of his scouts for saving the life of another human being.
Now, Steve Stanton of Troop 559 has not one — but two youngsters under his wing credited with using their scouting skills to keep another child alive.
In front of a crowd outside the Asbury United Methodist Church Thursday, the Boy Scout Medal of Merit was presented to 14-year-old Christian VanSickle. It was presented to the New Tech Signature Academy freshman by his proud mother, Crystal VanSickle, during Troop 559’s annual Court Of Honor.
One year earlier during the same event, the same award was bestowed upon Sam Roberts, now 12, for saving the life of a very young girl from drowning.
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“(The victim) was about 4 to 5 years old,” Sam said. “I noticed she was struggling in the water, so I just acted as fast as I could.” Although Sam is currently a Northside seventh grader, he was classified as a Webelo 2 Cub Scout during the girl’s rescue, his scoutmaster said.
In addressing a crowd of over 70 people, Stanton asked everyone to think for a moment about what Sam and Christian had done.
“It’s amazing that the fast-thinking and actions of these scouts resulted in two other human beings being allowed to complete their life journey,” Stanton said. “It’s kind of humbling when you think about it.”
It is also amazing how life-saving skills that are learned through scouting can come back to a person years after they were taught, the scout master said.
Christian VanSickle was honored Thursday for what took place in his family’s yard off Garden Street on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019.
As his mother describes it, her son and his cousin, now 13, were using a rope to play in a tree. When Christian turned around, he saw the other boy had lost his footing after a rope had somehow gotten wrapped about his neck.
“I immediately started thinking about all the life-saving measures I have learned in Boy Scouts,” Christian VanSickle said. “I was frantic, but I was trying to remain calm. I think that, for the most part, I did not panic.”
Christian was able to lift up his cousin up in an effort to stop the asphyxiation. Next, he managed to remove the tangled rope from the boy’s neck, and lower his unresponsive cousin to the ground, Crystal VanSickle said.
Knowing that his mother had CPR training, Christian immediately ran to her, along with her partner, to get their help, Stanton said.
After the other adult was unable to revive the boy, Christian’s mother began administering CPR herself while her partner called for an ambulance. While the boy was breathing on his own by the time emergency medical technicians arrived, physicians estimate the child’s brain had been deprived of oxygen for about seven minutes, Crystal VanSickle said.
The cousin, who has requested that his name not be released, was examined by specialists at both Riley Hospital for Children and at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent, she said.
“Neurosurgeons at both (medical facilities) have told us several times that without Christian’s quick acting and calm thinking, my nephew would not be here today,” Crystal VanSickle said.
While the cousin still suffers from short-term memory loss, his aunt says he has recovered from most of the trauma he experienced last year.
Although the cousin did not want to be publicly identified, another family member was proudly watching the ceremony: Christian’s older brother.
“How many people Christian’s age have saved a life?” asked Isaac Beavers, 23. “This is pretty awesome.”
One of the most touching moments of the evening came when Crystal VanSickle told the crowd how her son had lost two Cub Scout leaders, as well as his father, in a relatively short time.
But then, a mentor named Steve Elliott took Christian under his wing, she said.
“He helped him deal with his grief and anger, among other things,” the mother said. “He gave Christian a positive model to look forward to.”
After providing similar accolades to her son’s current Boy Scout leader, Crystal VanSickle presented both Elliott and Stanton with their own awards that recognized both men for the role they played in helping to place her son on the right path towards adulthood.
In scouting, the Medal of Merit is not considered a life-saving award. That would be an Honor Medal only bestowed if a scout puts his or her own life at risk to save someone else, the scoutmaster said.
“But the Medal of Merit is still an amazing award,” Stanton said. “I’ve never given one out, but now I have two who have earned his medal. That’s unbelievable.”
Christian, who appeared a bit uneasy, said the attention he received Thursday made him feel both nervous and anxious.
“Being called a hero — or being honored — doesn’t really matter to me,” he said.
That may be an attitude he picked up from his older brother, who said, “real heroes don’t normally take the honor or the credit,” Isaac Beavers explained.
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The Medal of Merit honors Scouts, Venturers and Scouters that have performed an act of meritorious service above and beyond what is normally expected of a youth or adult member of the Boy Scouts of America.
This act should demonstrate exceptional character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others.
The action does not necessarily need to involve rescue or saving life, but must demonstrate some aspect of Scouting ideals or skills.
Source: Boy Scout Trail website.
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