East Hills in Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Boy Scout Troop 15 / Eagle Scout Gerald "Junior" Ford
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 4, 2021
1. Boy Scout Troop 15 side of the marker
Boy Scout Troop 15. In 1918, eight years after the Boy Scouts of America incorporated, Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church chartered Boy Scout Troop 15 with a membership of twenty-six boys. The troop number changed to 215 in the 1940s. Among its alumni is Roger B. Chaffee (1935-1967), who achieved Eagle Scout rank in 1951. After graduating from Purdue University, he became a Naval officer and astronaut. He died while training for the Apollo 1 space mission.
Eagle Scout Gerald "Junior" Ford. Gerald “Junior” Ford joined Boy Scout Troop 15 in 1925 at the age of twelve. Guided by Scoutmaster Charles M. Kindel, Ford achieved Eagle Scout rank in 1927. He was in the first Governor’s Honor Guard of Eagle Scouts to serve at Fort Mackinac. He often singled out scouting as a major influence throughout his life. In 1973 Ford became the first Eagle Scout to be vice-president of the United States and, in 1974, the first to become president.
Erected 2017 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan History Center. (Marker Number L2303.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Government & Politics.
this page online
Location. 42° 57.53′ N, 85° 38.474′ W. Marker is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Kent County. It is in East Hills. Marker is on Lake Drive Southeast near Fitzhugh Avenue Southeast, on the right when traveling east. The marker stands on the property of Trinity United Methodist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids MI 49506, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Aquinas College (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mathias Alten Home & Studio / Mathias Alten (approx. 0.6 miles away); Shrine of Our Lady War Dead Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); Holmdene (approx. ¾ mile away); The Castle (approx. 0.8 miles away); Voigt House (approx. 0.8 miles away); Central Reformed Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Gerald R. Ford Boyhood Home / President Gerald R. Ford (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Rapids.
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 4, 2021
2. Eagle Scout Gerald "Junior" Ford side of the marker
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 4, 2021
3. Boy Scout Troop 15 / Eagle Scout Gerald "Junior" Ford Marker
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 4, 2021
4. Boy Scout Troop 15 / Eagle Scout Gerald "Junior" Ford Marker
Marker is at Trinity Methodist Church, site of the original boy scout troop
Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 278 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 5, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
