Miami Township, Ohio - On Labor Day 1912, Arthur Rose Eldred was the first young man so honored. Now, Adam Gordon has joined, Eldred, Bill Bradley (former United States senator), The Honorable Gerald R. Ford (38th president of the United States), H. Ross Perot, James A. Lovell Jr. (Apollo Astronaut), and former United States Senator Sam Nunn in achieving the exclusive rank of Eagle Scout.
On Sunday January 29 Gordon reached the highest advancement rank in Scouting after fulfilling scouting requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Less than four per-cent of all Boy Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle. More than one hundred people attended the Troop 621 Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony at the Epiphany United Methodist Church.
The award is a performance-based achievement. On the way to qualifying for Eagle Scout a candidate must design, organize and complete a significant community service project.* Gordon constructed an outdoor learning classroom on the grounds of the Loveland Elementary School in Granny's School Gardens. He constructed a table and seven benches, built latticework, cleaned and mulched trails throughout the gardens, and scraped old paint off a stairway into the school, and put on a fresh coat of paint. The learning center will be used by 3-4th graders for doing hands-on activities in the school garden.
Adam is the son of Rex and Cindy Gordon and lives in Goshen Township.
Throughout the ceremony photos of Gordon were projected on the large screens on the front walls of the church sanctuary. The photos were of the scout building the outdoor classroom, camping and outdoor adventures, and Gordon in scout leadership rolls. Many photos included Gordon's father Rex, as father and son participated in many scouting activities such as camping in New Mexico, and hiking 70 miles through a wilderness area. Rex Gordon said, "He is the greatest son anybody in the world could ask for. He wanted to be an Eagle Scout and he obtained it."
To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Although many options are available to demonstrate proficiency in these areas, a number of specific skills are required to advance through the ranks—Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. To advance, a Boy Scout must pass specific tests that are organized by requirements and merit badges.*
Merit badges signify the mastery of certain Scoutcraft skills, as well as helping boys increase their skill in an area of personal interest. Of the 120 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle Scout. Of this group, 12 badges are required, including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life*
Rex Gordon said his son is a Junior at Loveland High School and upon graduation, plans on studying industrial engineering with a minor degree in restaurant management at either Cornell, Purdue, or Texas A&M.
* Information from The Boy Scouts of America
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