Rarely Awarded Gold Medal Recognizes Lifelong Work and Distinguished Service to Conservation

WASHINGTON 25 April 2017 (ORCNS) - A rare William T. Hornaday Gold Medal for Distinguished Service to Conservation was recently awarded to HMSH Prince Dom Daniel L. Coberly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Boy Scouts of America. The Hornaday Gold Medal is a national level award that recognizes adults who render distinguished and unusual service to natural resources conservation and environmental improvement over a sustained period of at least 20 years. 

Coberly was cited for his life-long personal environmental accomplishments that span five decades, numerous countries, continents, and cultures. Less than 40 Gold Medals have been presented during the past 80 years. 

“From his boyhood work as a young Scout to control rainforest erosion in the Panama Canal Zone, to his Eagle Scout project to restore 30-acres of trees and shrubs for the benefit of patients at a military hospital in Germany, his life-long personal environmental ethic didn’t stop there,” said Dr. William Benson, Director of EPA’s National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory. “His adult activities to protect children from unexploded civil war ordnance throughout the United States, his efforts to educate parents and children about the dangers of landmines in Iraq and Afghanistan, his work with Native American Tribal Affairs, his work on environmental restorations during military base closures, and his work to promote sustainability are just a few of the activities for which Dan is now recognized with this Gold Medal”.

Coberly is a senior advisor for national communication with the U.S. EPA. In 2016, he was presented BSA’s the Silver Buffalo Award for distinguished service to youth.

A retired military public affairs officer, he was inducted in the U.S. Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame in 2014. In 1997 he was named a Distinguished Eagle Scout. He also serves in the Walsingham Guard of the Religious and Military Patriarchate of St. Stephen, where he holds the honorary rank of First Marshal of the Guards. Also the Grand Master Emeritus of the Noble Company of St. Mary of Walsingham, his many honors and distinctions include the Order of Pius IX, the Legion of the Eagle, and the Imperial Teutonic Order of the Hospital of St. Mary. 

The Hornaday award was named after the director and founder of the Bronx Zoo in New York, and the National Zoological Park in DC, who was credited with saving the American bison from extinction.

John Refieuna receives Silver St. George Medal for Christ and the Nation

15 November 2016 (ORCNS) - Chev. John V. Refieuna, a retired government contractor and long-time leader in Boy Scouts of America and other church and civic organizations, was recently awarded the Silver St. George Medal for Christ and the Nation for his exceptional service to both the Church and Scouting. The medal, whose proper name in Latin is the Insegne Argenteum Sancti Georgii pro Christo et Patria, is presented by the Patriarchal Council for International Scouts and Guides (Consiglio Patriarcale per Scoutismo Internazionale) for service to the Church and positive character development of youth. Typically recipients are active in a program within the World Brotherhood of Scouting, though sometimes awards are given to those outside the program for service to Scouting or youth in general. 

An Eagle Scout, John Refieuna has been an active adult leader in Scouting through Boy Scouts of America for many years, with over 60 years in the Scouting program. In addition to being highly involved in the Catholic Committee on Scouting for his local diocese, he has also served the Patriarchate of St. Stephen's Scouting outreach ministry and had significant impact on the development of its programs. Refieuna's other Scouting awards include the Silver Beaver award (from Boy Scouts of America) and the Imperial Distinguished Scout of the Holy Roman Empire religious award given by the Patriarchate of St. Stephen. Outside of Scouting, Refieuna is a Knight Commander with Star of the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great and is active in the Knights of Columbus. He also holds the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol (U.S. Air Force Auxiliary) and Colonel in the Walsingham Guard, the uniformed humanitarian wing of the Patriachate of St. Stephen.

Humanitarian Grand Master's Service Recognized with Boy Scout National Award

SAN DIEGO 27 May 2016 (ORCNS) - Daniel L. Coberly, Prince v. Reichenberg, Grand Master Emeritus of the Noble Company of Saint Mary of Walsingham, was presented the Silver Buffalo Award at the National Annual Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America in San Diego on May 27th. The award was presented by former Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert Gates, President of the Boy Scouts of America.

Created in 1925, the Silver Buffalo Award is the highest national-level distinguished service commendation of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program.

Daniel Coberly (center) with other recipients of the Silver Buffalo.

 

Coberly’s exceptional national and international level adult service of more than 45 years brought critical acclaim. A Distinguished Eagle Scout and International Scouting Ambassador, he was cited for his “visionary leadership” on national committees and his work supporting minorities, editing national publications, providing extensive publicity, and for his role in shaping a public law authorizing military support at four national Scout Jamborees.

Prc. Daniel has lived and worked on multiple continents as a youth and adult. His youth involvement in Scouting began in the Panama Canal Zone and Europe, then continued as an adult in Europe, the Far East, Atlanta, Oklahoma, Alabama, and North Carolina. He currently serves as National Representative of the Transatlantic Council, Europe and as editing lead for the National Merit Badge Task Force. He is a James West and Baden Powell Fellow.

In 2014, Coberly was one of two retired soldiers inducted in the U.S. Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame. In 2015 he received the President’s Gold Award for Volunteer Service; in 2016 he was recently presented the President’s Life Time Achievement Award from the Corporation for National and Community service.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College, a Master of Arts from Norwich University, graduate certificates from Alabama A&M and Oklahoma University and honorary doctorates. He is an elected member of the Excelsior College Alumni Council in Albany, New York.

New Presentation of Religious Award to Boy Scout

by Staff

January 2010




A Boy Scout receives the Imperial Distinguished
Scout award while a member of the Regional committee looks on.

 A Boy Scout received the Imperial Distinguished Scout of the Holy Roman Empire award during his troop meeting in late January while other recipients of the award were present. The recipient qualified for the Catholic religious emblem in Scouting, and then completed the additional requirements for the Holy Roman Empire award. The award is managed in part by the Archdiocese of the Southwest as part of its outreach ministry.

Religious Emblems Presented to Boy Scouts

by Staff

January 2010

Two Boy Scouts and one adult Scout leader were presented with the Imperial Distinguished Scout of the Holy Roman Empire award. This is a religious award that Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, both in the USA and around the world, can earn. Adult leaders may also qualify. The award is given not just to Anglo-Catholics, but to those of all Christian faiths. The applicant must qualify for the religious emblem given by their denomination first. Further requirements involve community or church service, academic excellence, scouting leadership, and historical research. Recipients should show how the history of the faith can be applied and made relevant today.

Members of the Metropolitan See remain active with Boy Scouts. This is an important ministry of the Church. The Boy Scouts, for more than a century, have helped boys grow into men and become productive members of society. Many have pointed to Boy Scouts as the most influential organization in their lives; an organization that helped them to be successful.

More importantly, Boy Scouts helps to preserve our Christian heritage. In an age of our faith being under attack on many fronts, Boy Scouts stands firm. The Imperial Distinguished Scout award exists to recognize not just the individuals who remain firm in their faith and exhibit Christian service to others, but also the organization that they are a part of.

For more information on youth or adults earning this award, please contact the Metropolitan Curia at metropolitan@southwestdiocese.org.