Gift keeps on giving for Scout
| Friday, Apr 03 2009 11:28 AM
Last Updated Friday, Apr 03 2009 11:34 AM
Loading Stories
Advertisement
Images:
Michael Fagans / The Californian Lucas Pauliukonis, 10, center, and his father Keslutis watch scoutmaster Dave Wasserman demonstrate how to throw an axe at a stump at Mr. Wasserman's home in Bakersfield on Tuesday night.
Related Stories:
Ten-year-old Lucas Pauliukonis, a fourth- grader at North Kern Christian School and the top national popcorn seller for Boy Scouts of America, planned his surprise way in advance for the members of Boy Scout Troop 105.
"That'll be so cool!" the lone Webelos Scout said, anticipating the reaction of the boys in the troop he hopes to join in May.
"I would really like to see their faces light up when I tell them they're going go to the Walking With Dinosaurs show. I can just see their faces -- their mouths drop open very wide."
But it was Lucas who received a surprise at the troop's meeting last Tuesday night, when the boys decided to give Lucas' gift of tickets away to needy kids.
"I admire them for making that kind of decision," said Lucas' dad, Kestutis ("Kes") Pauliukonis, 52, who helped his son buy the tickets.
"So I am pleased with the outcome. I thank the boys for making that kind of decision for needy families."
Dave Wasserman, the troop's scoutmaster, wasn't surprised. "I know these boys. These boys are very compassionate," he said. "I'm extremely proud. It's exactly what I figured they'd do."
A gesture that in no way steals the thunder from Lucas' generous giving to begin with -- which was possible because he got to keep 31 percent of the more than $39,000 he earned in popcorn sales for the Boy Scouts last year, according to Danny Tucker, Scout executive of the Southern Sierra Council.
A standout Scout
Ask just about anyone in scouting locally, and they all know Lucas, Tucker said.
"He's the top popcorn salesman of all time nationwide, not just in Bakersfield.
"He pretty much does about everything a kid can do in scouting," he said -- including helping local Scouts whose families can't afford to send them to camp or to buy uniforms for them.
But just where does the generosity of the small, left-handed, big-blue-eyed boy come from?
"Mostly from God," he said, "because he would like to give people things like everlasting life. And I would give them happiness just like God would want me to do."
Still going to the show
Although Troop 105 won't be going to the animatronic dinosaur show that will shake the rafters of the Rabobank Arena for four days beginning Wednesday, Lucas and his parents will definitely be there.
"Oh, yes, it is so cool!" Lucas said. "I really wanna go there because I really want to know how the humans got along with the dinosaurs and how they survived."
