More than 300 people gathered at a park in Hallsville for a vigil honoring the Scouts. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal)

Devotional books sent following death of three Boy Scouts

HALLSVILLE, Texas––The Strength for Service organization rushed 52 copies of the Boy Scout edition of Strength for Service to God and Community to the troop that lost three Boy Scouts when their sail boat hit a power line at Lake O' the Pines on Saturday, August 5.

Three boys were on a catamaran when the 30-foot mast hit a power line. The voltage immediately killed Will Brannon, 17, and Heath Faucheux, 16.

Thomas Larry, 11 was thrown from the boat where he was rescued by troop leaders. He was airlifted to the Louisiana State University Medical Center, where he died on Monday, Aug. 7.

The boys were members of Troop 620, charted by Winterfield UMC. David Perkins serves as charter organization representative. He and his wife, Glenda, will arrange for the book distributions.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the boating accident a “terrible tragedy” and said his “thoughts and prayers go out to the Boy Scouts and their families.”