The Spirit of an Eagle: Will Reinart’s Journey

By Rich Lankford
National Office of Development 

Will Reinart wanted to become an Eagle Scout.

For eight years, he worked toward that goal, earning merit badges, participating in Scouting when his health allowed and building friendships along the way. His journey, however, was unlike that of most Scouts.

Will was diagnosed with leukemia at age 9. Over the years that followed, he endured treatments, surgeries and lengthy hospital stays that often kept him away from school, sports and Scouting activities. His family estimates that approximately half of the years he was sick were spent in the hospital.

Still, Will kept moving forward.

His family remembers him as easygoing, soft-spoken, funny and tenderhearted, with a remarkable determination. Even on his hardest days, he rarely complained. When treatment prevented him from participating in the sports he loved, he found another way to compete, joining a local swim club. He became highly competitive and once competed at a summer state meet just a day after chemotherapy. He won his heat.That same determination followed him into Scouting.

Will enjoyed earning merit badges, spending time with his friends and experiencing the adventures Scouting offered. Because of his compromised immune system, he could not always attend meetings or campouts, but his troop continued to find ways to include him. His fellow Scouts once created a large card filled with encouraging messages, reminding Will that he remained an important part of the troop even when he could not be there.

One of Will’s favorite Scouting memories came when he was around 11 or 12 years old. During a campout near an airport, a Marine Corp Reserve sergeant arranged an obstacle course for the Scouts. Will was in remission at the time but was still physically weak from treatment. Even so, he took on the course with determination and excitement, completing it with a focus that impressed the sergeant.

A Mentor Who Believed in Him

Throughout Will’s Scouting journey, Gary Waldon was one of his strongest advocates.

Gary supported Will from a young age and became a positive role model as Will worked toward Eagle. He shared stories of Scouting adventures and experiences, giving Will something to look forward to and inspiring him to keep pushing toward his goal. Will looked up to Gary and considered him a role model.

A few months before Will passed away, Gary sat down with the family and went through Will’s merit badges to see what remained for him to complete. Because Will had reached the age of 19, Gary was also working with the Scout office to help him pursue an extension.

Will was determined to become an Eagle Scout, and Gary was determined to help him find a way forward.

A Project Focused on Helping Another Scout

Because of Will’s illness, he was unable to complete a traditional Eagle Scout service project. But even while facing his own challenges, he was thinking about how he could help someone else.

One of the ideas Will and Gary were exploring was a fundraiser to financially help another student who was dealing with an illness. It reflected something that was central to Will’s character: even while fighting his own battle, he was thinking about how he could make life better for someone else.

Will’s path to Eagle ultimately could not be measured by a completed project or a checklist of requirements. His family believes he demonstrated the qualities of an Eagle Scout through the way he lived his life with grace, determination, flexibility, character and grit.

The Winnebago Council recognized that spirit by awarding Will the Eagle Scout scarf and pins in honor of his enduring determination. An Eagle Scout ceremony was held at his funeral to honor his desire to become an Eagle Scout like his brother. The national organization also recognized Will with the Spirit of the Eagle Award.

But Will’s story does not end with those honors.

It lives on in the Scouts who remember him. It lives on in Gary, who never stopped believing in him. It lives on in his family and in the people who witnessed the courage and determination with which he faced each new challenge.

And perhaps most importantly, it lives on in the way his family remembers him today.

They believe Will is still with them in his own way, a guardian angel watching over the people he loved. They say that when they see an eagle or a cardinal, they think of Will and know he is there. They know Will is with the Lord and at peace, free from the pain and suffering he endured.

And they imagine that if Will could speak to us now, he would simply say:

“I’m OK. Don’t worry about me.”

Then, true to who Will was, he would remind us not to waste the time we have.

Go have fun. Experience everything you can. Don’t hold back. Live life to the fullest and laugh as much as you can.

Will’s journey toward Eagle Scout may not have ended the way he envisioned.

But the spirit behind that journey the courage to keep going, the determination to help others and the ability to find joy even in difficult circumstances is a legacy that continues to live on.