Brian Urness, 15 year old Boy Scout of Troop 1 in New Providence, was awarded the Honor Medal from the Boy Scouts of America for rescuing his father, Mark Urness, after he nearly drowned while vacationing in Michigan this past August. Brian pulled his father to safety from the bottom of Lake Michigan – some 10-feet down – and swam him back to shore.

“I’ve never been in a situation like this,” said Brian, who swam for years with the Summit Seals and is now a member of the Crestview swim team. “I just reacted. I didn’t have time to think. I thought, ‘OK, Boy Scouts — just how they taught me,’ and mentally stayed strong.”

Perhaps, there are no coincidences. Just days before embarking on vacation, Brian had completed the Life Saving merit badge. His entire family credits his Boy Scout training in water life-saving techniques for saving his father’s life.

“It’s a wonderful story of a series of circumstances where a young man knew exactly what to do and he did it,” said Hal Daume, 70, of Berkeley Heights.  Mr. Daume served as Brian’s Life Saving merit badge counselor and went on to say,  “This is what it’s all about: Go back to the Boy Scout motto – he was prepared.”

The Honor Medal is awarded when someone has demonstrated unusual heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at considerable risk to self.  On the average about 30 of these awards  are given annually across the country.

All of Patriots’ Path Council salutes you Brian Urness! Congratulations.