An Eagle Scout Recognition Ceremony was held for Samuel B. Thomas, of Bedford, on Aug. 26.

The ceremony began at 1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Bedford Presbyterian Church, with opening ceremonies by committee Chairman Steven Carter.

The Eagle Scout Pledge was given by Scoutmaster Wesley Reeks, who also gave the “Charge to the Eagle Scout.”

Closing was done by senior patrol leader Matt Williams by retiring the colors.

Recognitions were made by the Marine Corps League; Jack Belanger, of American Legion Post 54; and Gary Backus, of VFW Post 8401. Certificates were presented, along with an American flag and the New Hampshire state flag.

Thomas’s Scouting career began in 2001, when he became a Tiger Cub in Pack 114. His most memorable times in Cub Scouts were the overnights on the USS Salem and USS Massachusetts battleships, as well as canoeing down the Pemigewasset River. In February 2006, he earned the Arrow of Light Award and crossed into Troop 414.

From the start of Boy Scouts, Thomas wanted to be an Eagle Scout, especially since he had just experienced seeing his brother earn the award. Thomas set a goal to achieve the rank of Eagle by age 15.

The first year of Scouts, he made it all the way to First Class. By the time he reached the rank of Life Scout, he realized that the time required for high school was going to be a factor in his success to achieve his goal. He managed around it, planned a project and ultimately earned Eagle at age 16.

Some of the things Thomas said he enjoyed most were camping, summer camp at Wah-Tut-Cah and the parent-son campout.

Thomas’ leadership positions included den chief, patrol quartermaster, assistant patrol leader and patrol leader. He earned 22 merit badges.

Thomas’ Eagle Scout project consisted of replacing the roof on the main kiosk at the Pulpit Rock entrance off New Boston Road, as well as the construction of two picnic tables. One of the tables was placed at the campsite in Pulpit Rock. The second table was placed near the pulpit itself.

Thomas held a car wash at BYPC to fundraise for the purchase of the materials. He and his fellow Scouts constructed the kiosk roof frame and the picnic table frames at his house one afternoon. The frames and the other materials were brought to the site to be assembled the following Saturday.