Mount Laurel’s Boy Scout Troop 42 saw six members achieve the honorary rank of Eagle Scout within the past year, a rare occurrence for the national organization.
A Scout can complete requirements for any other rank in virtually any order, but the ranks must be earned in sequence: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and finally Eagle, according to Peter Mirabella, longtime Scoutmaster for Troop 42.
“(With each level), you’re building on your skills,” he explained. “Once you get to first class, you should be able to do all your skills without help, (including) setting up a tent, building a fire and cooking outdoors with an open flame.”
To obtain the Eagle rank, a Scout must earn 22 merit badges. Mirabella noted that only 1 percent of kids who join the Scouts ultimately achieve the highest rank.
“It’s a long journey to get to Eagle (Scout rank),” he added. “It’s not something that can be accomplished overnight. It takes years of work, dedication and perseverance.”
The new Eagle Scouts are all 18-year-old Mount Laurel residents who have been involved with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for about six years, beginning at age 12. In order to earn the Eagle Scout rank, they were required to run their own community- service project.
One of those projects included building a refuge hut to rehabilitate injured animals at Cedar Run in Medford. Mirabella said the Scout pursuing that project first had to get it approved, then ask local businesses for donations to fund the required building materials. He was also tasked with creating a blueprint on building the hut and finding volunteers to help.
“It took him about a month and a half to build this hut,” Mirabella said. “He had Scouts and friends come out to help. He was the special point of contact for everyone involved.” Mirabella noted.
Special to The Sun: Scouts were tasked with creating their own project that benefits the community in order to receive their Eagle Scout ranking.
Mirabella commended all of the new Eagle Scouts for their achievement.
“As an Eagle Scout myself, I can’t be more proud they’re joining me in the fraternity of Eagle Scouts,” he remarked. “It’s well deserved. They were the cornerstone of my troop, and without these six Scouts, my troop wouldn’t be as successful as they are today. I greatly appreciate what they’ve done for my troop and I congratulate them from the bottom of my heart.
“The journey was long and I just couldn’t be any prouder.”
