Editorial: An honor to last a lifetime

My son is an Eagle Scout.

Those words fill me with a pride that almost makes me burst with joy, and I know it’s a feeling I share with his mother and other parents whose children have accomplished the same goal.

For Ben and his buddies, this goal has been one they have had – and one their parents have shared – for a long time. Their journey started ten years ago when they joined Cub Scouts and began working on their Tiger rank. We talked about it then, that they were taking their first steps on the trail to Eagle.

Twelve kids started in that den in 2012. On Sunday, five of them plus one younger brother were presented with the highest honor in scouting, the rank of Eagle Scout.
Only between two and five percent of kids who join scouts will ever make it to Eagle. It takes a level of commitment and dedication on the part of not only the kid but also his family to get there. And as the kids get older, there is more and more competition for their time and their attention. For those who do make it though, scouting instills values and skills that will last a lifetime and shapes young men and young women to be good citizens, good leaders, good parents, and, hopefully, future scout leaders.
For a community our size to produce one or two or three Eagle Scouts in a year is rare anymore. Producing six from Troop 433 is awesome. And then when you add that just a week ago, our companion Troop 4433 pinned the first two girls as Eagles in our section of the Panhandle, that brings Clarendon’s total to eight for 2022. Incredible!
Though my father and grandfather never attained the rank of Eagle, they were super supportive of scouting in Clarendon and in Hedley. My parents made sure that my brother and I got our bird. They are surely proud now – as we are – that they now have three grandsons who are Eagle Scouts. Carrying on that legacy has been important to our family to make sure this generation has the same opportunities we had.
Ben’s group, which includes his cousin Daniel Estlack, Mason Allred, Koltyn Shields, Henry Bivens, and Haughton Bivens, are all young men who are very important to me. I’ve watched them all grow and mature while still remaining boys at heart.
They can be fun and act goofy, but then the training and the upbringing can kick in, and these guys are serious, thoughtful, community-minded, and service oriented.
That’s what scouting does. If you follow the mantra of Keep It Simple, Make It Fun – something my mother used to recite and men like T.C. Saye were good at – then the impact you can have on a young person’s life is incredible.
These boys carry with them memories that will last a lifetime. Memories of adventures, games, camping, learning, and laughter that will overshadow the occasional but necessary boring presentation. Through those fun experiences they have learned the meaning of Duty to God and Country. They realize the importance of helping other people and keeping themselves physically fit, mentally awake, and morally straight. They also realize that value of twelve important character traits that scouting holds most dear – trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
The Diamond Back Patrol – the name they chose for themselves in fifth grade – did one thing in particular that will stand out in local scouting history. All of these boys completed their Eagle Projects in one day. A single Eagle project takes a lot of time, planning, and hard work. To pull off six major projects in one day was nothing short of miraculous. It showed not only the commitment of these boys and their families and friends, who gave of their time and talents to make it happen, but it also showed the camaraderie these guys have for each other.
Each guy in turn had to lead and be a leader. They all had to help each other, take guidance from each other, and pull together in a way that we hadn’t really gotten to see them do before. But we knew they had it in them – they’ve been Eagles at heart for a long time.
To my men, I want you each to know how very proud I am of each of you. Ben, Dan, Mason, Koltyn, Henry, and Haughton – it has been my pleasure to get to take this journey with you. I cannot wait to see what you all accomplish. Take those skills and those memories and make the world a little better.
And for my son, your Mom and I – and the whole family – are incredibly proud of you. You bring joy to our lives, you live the Scout Law and Oath, and it is a blessing to be your parents. We love you, Ben.
Go fly high, men. Soar with the Eagles and fear no challenge for you are up to the task.