Local teen earns Eagle Scout rank
Eric Huber joined a select group, this past weekend.
The 18-year-old, Fredericktown High School graduate earned the rank of Eagle Scout. The recognition came in a ceremony Saturday afternoon at the Latter Day Saints Church in Fredericktown.
To open the ceremony, Don Jones with the district committee talked about the exclusive group Eric has joined by becoming an Eagle Scout.
The Boy Scouts of America website says there have been 2.3 million young men who have achieved the Eagle Scout Rank since the first in 1912. In 2013, just seven percent of all scouts achieved this highest advancement rank in boy scouting.
Master of Ceremonies Ken Kelly, Assistant District Commissioner of the Ozark Trailblazers, reiterated Jones’ remarks.
“Eric has achieved a goal that not many have achieved,” Kelly said. “This is the pinnacle of scouting. It’s a culmination of all of their leadership skills and merit badges. The purpose is to demonstrate the leadership skills they have learned going up through the ranks of scouting. (Eagle Scouts) are to demonstrate to adults and boys that they have leadership talent.”
Kelly then continued the ceremony talking about Eric’s growth as a person and a scout. He asked Eric’s parents, Loretta and Donald Huber to come up and receive a special pin from Eric. Next, Loretta put the Eagle pin on Eric’s uniform.
Eric says he has been working toward this goal for the last 10 or 11 years. He says he completed several steps, including working on being an assistant scout master with Troop 408 Scout Master Ken Braun. Eric also explained the service project he completed. He constructed and installed four benches along the hiking trail at Amidon Memorial Conservation Area. The benches are spaced along the trail.
In a letter, Becky Fletcher, Resource Forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation said of the benches: “They will be a real service to the families and other members of the public that use this area. The Missouri Department of Conservation is grateful to Eric Huber and his Scout troop and volunteers for their contribution to the Amidon Memorial Conservation Area. Their hard work will benefit Missouri citizens for years.”
During Saturday’s ceremony, Eric presented his Mentor Pin to Braun, his scout leader.
“He has been a leader to our troop,” Eric said. “He helped me through the scouts by being a good leader and personal friend.”
Finally Eric received his Eagle neckerchief and slide, and he concluded the ceremony with a prayer over the meal.
