APPLETON, Wis. — Hearing a pair of Fox Valley Boy Scout troops jumped into action when their train derailed didn’t surprise Mary Bauer.

She’s the lead pastor at First English Lutheran Church in Appleton, which has ties to both troops.

What You Need To Know

  • Fifteen Boy Scouts and their leaders from the Fox Valley assisted at a train derailment in Missouri Monday
  • Both troops are sponsored through First English Lutheran Church in Appleton
  • The church assists by providing space and help with projects if needed​

“I was not surprised to hear that they stopped in and helped, but I was touched,” Bauer said. “I think everybody was touched to hear how much they helped.”

The church acts as a sponsor for the troops.

“We know how much they learn through the Boy Scout process,” Bauer said. “We make a commitment to them to give them space, to be there if they need help with some of their projects or even their Eagle Scout if they have ideas of things to, do we try to give them a little bit of help.”

Fifteen teenage scouts and seven troop leaders were on an Amtrak train that hit a dump truck and derailed Monday. In the wake of the crash, the scouts provided first aid to several injured passengers and helped move debris for emergency personnel at the crash site.

The group was on their way home from a trip to New Mexico and finally returned to Wisconsin Tuesday night.

Bauer said the parish is proud of the way the scouts reacted.

“It is something we take immense pride in. People have been stepping up and wanting to give checks and money to the troops because they’re so touched with what they did,” she said. “We are too, that we’re able to be part of what they’re doing in helping these young men to become really helpful members of society.”