Video: Scouts say goodbye to one of their own

Christmas came early for the Maginn family of Greece. But it was a somber holiday, as the family celebrated earlier this year, on Monday, so their son, Christopher, could be there. The Army Reserves medic is expected to leave for Afghanistan this week.

But before he did he spent some time in a familiar setting, with members of Boy Scout Troop 195 of Greece. Maginn, 26, earned his Eagle Scout ranking while he was in that troop. His dad, John Maginn, is a former Scoutmaster there.

1st Lt. Christopher Maginn joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps when was a student at St. Bonaventure University. His grandfather fought in World War II and his father was in the National Guard so he grew up "with a fascination in the Army."

In Afghanistan, he'll be part of a team which helps advisers to the Afghani police and army, Christopher Maginn said.

"This is all part of transitioning the country to them and bringing our guys home," he said.

Scoutmaster Richard Rizzo and former Scoutmaster John Viavattine gave Maginn a buck knife and the numbers '195' to carry with him. They promised Maginn plenty of letters and packages from the Scouts, too.

The send-off was emotional for Viavattine, who has known the Maginn family for a long time. He also thought of his own son, who's 18 and gets "piles of stuff from the military" in the mail.

"And just to send one of our boys out there ... it's tough," he said. "It's a flash between the time they're in Scouts and military age."

Maginn has been home three times since he's been stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. Since he's been away, his son has shown a new maturity, his father said.

src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcRaaaBJsjwrel=1" width="425" height="355" scale="ShowAll" loop="loop" menu="menu" wmode="transparent" quality="1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> "I think he definitely has a different insight into his service and the people around him and what it entails," John Maginn said. Indeed, both say being a Scout prepared Christopher Maginn for Army life. The younger Maginn, dressed in his pressed uniform, with his black shoes gleaming, stood next to the boys in their uniforms as they said the Scout oath together. "Everything that Christopher is exemplifying is everything we've trained them to be," said John Viavattine, former Scoutmaster. Maginn spoke to the Scouts about his job in Afghanistan and how similar the military is to Scouting. Jonmichael Knapp, 14, said Maginn's service has taught him "to have courage and be an all-around good person." Eagle Scout Chris Baugher, 16, said the troop has followed Maginn and gave him a special sword before, he said. 'He's a good guy - definitely a role model," Baugher said. "Hope he comes back." That's on the mind of his family, too. "It's like preparing for the game and hoping there's no game," John Maginn said. Maginn is already looking forward to coming home, telling friends and loved ones he hopes to be back by Halloween. As for next year's holiday, Maginn said he "better be home by Christmas." <em>Colleen M. Farrell can be reached at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 265, or at cfarrell@mpnewspapers.com.