The Troop 5 Boy Scouts of Bedford have been busy with all the things that make scouting fun: Camping trips, high adventure activities (such as those at a recent weekend at Gunstock which included aerial tree adventures, ziplining), and other activities, learning valuable life skills, and working on community projects.

And for a select group of Scouts, they have been even busier, diligently working on achieving their Eagle Scout rank.

The Scouting experience reaches its pinnacle when a Scout combines his accomplishments within Scouting and his desire to give back to the community and reaches the rank of Eagle Scout. The demands are daunting, which explains why only about 5 percent of boys in scouting reach the rank of Eagle.

When a Scout becomes an Eagle, he joins the ranks of an elite group of individuals.

Many individuals who have made significant and diverse contributions to our country are Eagle Scouts. These include: U.S. President Gerald Ford; Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; pro basketball player and U.S. Senator Bill Bradley; and film director Stephen Spielberg. And 37 astronauts are Eagle Scouts, including Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon.

Troop 5 is proud of our Scouts who have recently joined this esteemed group, and are showing the way to other Scouts who are pursuing the Eagle rank.

Our recent Eagles include: Michael Giraldi, Colin Figler and Philip Sherwin.

The Eagles, their families, and their significant accomplishment are recognized at a Court of Honor.

Troop 5 welcomes all boys in the area who would like to explore the Scouting experience. The young men currently in Troop 5 are setting a wonderful example, and we welcome others to join.

– Submitted by Troop 5 Boy Scouts of Bedford