Centre Hall Boy Scouts receive Eagle Scout pins

 CENTRE HALL — Trevor Fleck, Garret Fleck, Jacob Hockenberry and Jared Hurd, members of Boy Scout Troop 20 in Centre Hall, each were awarded the rank of Eagle Scout during a Court of Honor held at the Old Gregg School Community Center in Spring Mills on Jan. 14.

About 110 people, including families, friends and other Scouts, attended the event.

After a welcome and the presentation of the colors, Former Troop 20 Scoutmaster Sal Nicosia spoke about the Eagle Scout qualities of honor, loyalty, courage and service. The four honored Scouts then accepted the obligations of these qualities and were pronounced Eagle Scouts by Nicosia.

Hockenberry’s grandfather, Fred Johnson, who earned his Eagle Scout award in 1959, presented the Eagle Award pins to the Scouts’ parents, who in turn put them on their sons’ uniforms. The new Eagle Scouts then presented their parents with Eagle pins.

Hockenberry was recognized for his efforts in earning 10 merit badges beyond the Eagle requirements.

Jeff Breon, representing the Marine Corps League, presented the new Eagles with engraved K-Bar knives. He noted that Boy Scouting and the military share common traits, and that America benefits from the service of both organizations. He praised the boys for their efforts in achieving the Eagle rank.

The new Eagle Scouts each addressed the crowd, thanking parents, Scoutmasters and fellow Scouts for their support through the years.

“They grow up,” said Nicosia said of young Boy Scouts. “And, leaders, if you do your jobs right, this is what you get,” he said, pointing to newly pinned Eagle Scouts.

Each Eagle candidate is required to have a community service-oriented project to earn their Eagle rank. The boys’ Eagle projects included constructing a picnic pavilion at the Old Gregg School and making a sign for the Evangelical Cemetery in Rebersburg.