PITTSBORO — It’s impressive to see a single member of a Scout troop achieve the rank of Eagle, the highest and most prestigious achievement in Scouting.
On Saturday, Scout Troop 93 here in Pittsboro saw three of its members — Mason Powell, Zack Wilson, and Seph Trageser — bestowed with the esteemed rank of Eagle Scout.
Hosted by Scoutmaster William Huneycutt, Troop Committee Chairman Pete School, Assistant Scoutmaster Mack Thorpe and other members of Troop 93, the Court of Honor ceremony at Pittsboro United Methodist Church was alight with Scout decor and pageantry, with proud parents and city officials looking on.
Scouts of all ages performed the time-honored traditions of reciting the Scout Oath, the color guard presentation of the American and Scout flags, and the symbolic lighting of candles by the newly honored Eagle Scouts.
Scouting traces its origins to its inaugural US chapter in 1910, and invites young boys (and girls, following a 2019 change that also saw the name of the Boy Scouts organization change to Scouts BSA) to embark on an adventurous and character-building journey through life.
They are asked to embrace values such as hard work, leadership and honor, as well as duty to God, self and others. They are asked to adhere to Scout Law of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
"On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
— The Scout Oath
Achieving the rank of Eagle is hard-earned and no easy feat. Only 4% of Scouts in the United States complete the tasks required, including the acquisition of 21 merit badges — 14 specific badges including First Aid, Communication, Cooking, Citizenship in the Community and Personal Fitness; with the other seven coming from more than 100 different options.
As Scouts progress through six different ranks on the way to Eagle, including Tenderfoot, Star and Life, a prospective Eagle must fulfill leadership roles and demonstrate by example the Scout Oath and Law. Perhaps most significantly, an Eagle must plan, develop and lead a significant service project for a school, community or religious organization.
Chatham Charter High School senior Seph Trageser, who will attend UNC Chapel Hill in the fall, joined the Boy Scouts in third grade. For his Eagle Project, Trageser built benches at his school’s soccer fields intended for parents, the elderly, and handicapped attendees. “It’s cool to see something you did to help people come to fruition,” Trageser told Chatham News & Record.
Like his fellow Eagles, he praised the Scouts for the life skills and friendships he’s forged within the Scouting community.
“The Scouts prepare you for life,” echoed Northwood High senior Mason Powell, another newly promoted Eagle who plans to attend NC State in the fall. “I love the outdoors and the adventures we plan every month, but interacting with people and learning leadership have taught me so much.” Powell built an outdoor patio, tables and benches at Pittsboro Fire House #3 of the North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department for his Eagle Project.
Zack Wilson, a Woods Charter School senior who will attend Furman, said he developed newfound courage and appreciation for nature through Scouting. For his Eagle Project, he built a pond at UNC’s Farm at Penny Lane, underscoring a commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being.
Troop 93 was chartered here in Pittsboro in 1947 and has produced 87 Eagle Scouts in its 77 years. Pittsboro Mayor Cindy Perry, herself the mother of an Eagle Scout, offered her congratulations and presented the group with a framed resolution acknowledging and congratulating Troop 93 for its 75th anniversary — a resolution that had been misplaced after being made two years ago.
While there is much to praise in Scouting, the Scouts have not been without controversy. Following revelations of severe misconduct within the organization, Scouts BSA created a policy that requires two adults to be present during all scouting activities, and it is working to rebuild its image.
“The Boy Scouts of America now requires that once a year, all adult volunteers, Scoutmasters, Assistant Scout Masters, or any adult that will be working with a Scout must take Youth Protection Training,” explained Troop 93 Assistant Scoutmaster Mack Thorpe. The training, plus background checks, a 24-hour helpline, and an increased focus on the reporting of abuse — whether inside or outside the organization — is essential to restoring and maintaining trust within scouting.
Troop 93 has both boy’s and girl’s troops, with 20 dedicated adult leaders working to build the next generation of scouting in Pittsboro. For more information, visit bstroop93.org or email jointroop93@gmail.com.
More than 2.5 million youths have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, including Neil Armstrong, Apollo 13’s Jim Lovell, and Apollo 16’s Charles Duke, who, at age 36, was the youngest person to walk on the moon. President Gerald Ford, Steven Spielberg, and Walmart founder Sam Walton were also Eagles.
And, as of Saturday, Pittsboro adds three more Eagles to the ranks.