HOWLAND — The Medici Museum of Art, which is showcasing a collection of Norman Rockwell paintings of Boy Scouts and scouting from over the years, was scheduled to be officially opened in March until the coronavirus pandemic hit.

That official ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday with special guest, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who helped with the grand opening and dedication.

LaRose, who was a Boy Scout who earned his Eagle Scout award, said he was impressed by the exhibit.

“What a fun look at some of our great scouting heritage,” he said.

He encouraged the Scouts in attendance to stay active in scouting and noted the first election he ever won was when he ran for patrol leader in scouting and later senior patrol leader.

“Being in scouting provided me with great leadership experience. The scouting programs provide youth with so much and the moral compass you get from scouting is one of the most important things. As we all get through life there are forks in the roads sometimes and which way you go can make a big difference in your life. Take time and think of what you have learned in scouting before making a decision on what is the right thing to do,” LaRose said.

He said scouting programs also are about having fun, so he encouraged the Scouts to stick with it.

LaRose said he moves those with Eagle Scout awards in Boy Scouting or Gold Awards in Girl Scouting to the top of his list when filling positions and hiring in his office.

“My own Eagle Scout award is something I am proud of. The award shows you have the intelligence and commitment to stick to it and making it all the way to Eagle says a lot about a person. It is something you will be proud of for the rest of your life,” LaRose said.

LaRose said scouting for boys and girls is the premiere youth mentorship program in the country.

“As Scouts we can help be the moral voice for our country,” he said.

“Scouting is some of my best memories of childhood. Being at scout camp and learning to be safe with a pocket knife, building a fire and putting it out responsibly, learning how to swim with your friends and navigating with a compass,” he said.

Warren resident Ned Gold, a local attorney who has been in scouting for more than 70 years and earned the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor, the Silver Buffalo Award, said LaRose’s experience was one of the reasons he wanted to see the Boy Scout art collection at the Medici Museum.

Gold took the group of 50 people on a tour of the museum and then for the official dedication and ribbon cutting.

Howland Trustee James LaPolla has been in scouting since age 8 and now is a leader for Troop 122, which has earned 170 Eagle Scout awards over the years. He was the first Eagle Scout for Troop 101.

“This exhibit and this museum is an honor for the township,” LaPolla said.

Braden Geiszler, 12, of Troop 8 in Leavittsburg, told his friends at school that he was going to meet LaRose.

“I was impressed by his own personal story about scouting. I will do what he said and stay in scouting,” he said.

Lillian Guesman, 11, of Troop 8, said she learned from LaRose to always follow the Scout law even when doing other things in life.

Ava Edwards, 12, also of Troop 8, said she saw how LaRose went from being a Scout to the important government job he holds today by living by what he learned in scouting.

Henry Zwetzig, 10, of Troop 122 in Howland, said “I learned to never quit scouting or give up on scouting and work hard to become an Eagle Scout.”

The museum was made possible by Foundation Medici, a non-profit foundation.

Kaitlyn Russo, assistant director of the museum, said this is the first time the collection has been on display in one space.

“Many museums and foundations fought for the collection. We are fortunate to have been able to acquire such a beautiful collection. We are really excited to welcome everyone back,” she said.

LaRose said of all the places in the world the art pieces could have gone they are in the local hometown of Howland.

“This is something we can all appreciate and celebrate,” he said.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com