By Nila Harris
BUTLER - Jeremy Crawford, 17, recently obtained the rank of Eagle Scout.
An Eagle Scout is “the highest award available to youth members of the Boy Scouts of America,” according to eaglescout.org. “It represents many years of dedicated service and the successful completion of a long process."The scout must show that he is a leader, willing to work with others, show respect for his leaders and peers, and have a strong character. The scout must earn merit badges and hold other ranks prior to Eagle Scout."
Only 4 percent of scouts navigate the lengthy process to reach Eagle Scout rank, according to the organization.
Crawford, a homeschooled senior, has been involved in scouting since he was 11, has earned 130 merit badges. He has been a part of two scouting troops — first, Troop 806 with his father, Jonathan Crawford as scoutmaster, and currently with Troop 95 with Chris Binion as scoutmaster.
It is his involvement with these two troops which led him to pull resources for his final Eagle Scout project.
After attending community meetings in Alexandria, Crawford discovered that a bridge needed repairing at the Alexandria Community Park.
The teen went to the park with his father, looked at the bridge and came up with a plan to fix it.
Community leaders looked at Crawford’s plan, gave him a general approval, then had him finetune the details.
After attending another community meeting, his project was approved. Finally, it was time to order the materials and call in the troops!
Fourteen scouts from the two troops were involved in the project which included 140 hours’ worth of planning and labor. As part of the rank requirements, he had to keep a log of the entire process. He also attended community meetings, and worked on planning, organizing and building.
Crawford said scouting “helps you try a lot of different things and new stuff like business and entrepreneurship.”
A scout might try pottery, welding, crafts or auto repair, but also learns overall wellness , fitness and emergency preparedness, he said.
Youths interested in being a part of Troop 95, which is it is a co-educational group, may attend meetings 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. Thursdays at Main Street Baptist Church in Alexandria. Troop 806, open to boys in sixth to 10th grades, meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at the American Legion Hall in Falmouth with current scoutmaster Bill Voet.