Local scout earns Eagle – Collierville Independent

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor is a solemn ceremony that epitomizes honor and respect and pays homage to scouts that have “paid their dues.” On May 20, this recognition was given to two young men from Troop 211 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Collierville.
Those young men were Oakland’s Carter Pruett, a junior at St. Benedict at Auburndale, and Collierville’s Sam Thomas a recent graduate of Lausanne Collegiate School.
This ceremony is a time for reflection and recognition of the journey these young men made to be worthy of the title of Eagle Scout. They were tested through service to their community through projects like food collection and distribution, community clean-up, and conservation projects.
Through these and other efforts, they are a major part of the most wholesome and significant organization in the world, the Boy Scouts of America.
Becoming an Eagle Scout is the highest recognition that a scout can receive and is a climax of their scouting efforts. Their progression through an advancement program says they are representative of the best that scouting has to offer, that they remained active, lived the Boy Scout Oath, earned at least 21 merit badges, held positions of leadership, planned and lead projects and understand their citizenship and religious beliefs.
During the ceremony, Pruett and Thomas were asked, “Which of the scouting obligations means the most to you?”
Thomas responded with trustworthy, and Pruett with loyalty.
Thomas explained the meaning of trustworthy, his response focused on his commitment to live a life of honor so that all of his actions will reflect favorably upon his home, church, troop and community. His plans for the future are to attend the University of Rochester in the fall.
As Pruett talked about the meaning of loyalty, he expressed his commitment to live his life in such a way that his actions will always focus on devotion to his community, country and God.
He spoke of his desire to be true to his family, leaders, friends, school and nation.
He will continue to serve his community by working this summer as a volunteer at LeBonheur (VolunTeen Program). As he looked at his younger brother sitting on the front row, he expressed a desire to be a good example so that he might follow in his footsteps.
Promotion to the level of Eagle Scout is one of honor and responsibility and gives a greater meaning to “duty to God, to country, to your fellow scouts, and to mankind in general.”
On this day, Pruett and Thomas became members of an elite group of men, including astronauts Neil Armstrong and Charles Duke, Sam Walton (Wal-Mart), J. W. Marriott (Marriott Hotels) and Gerald R. Ford (38th President), Donald Rumsfeld (former Secretary of Defense), Steven Spielberg (film maker), Manti Te’o (San Diego Chargers line backer); Bill Bradley (basketball Hall of Famer) and Ken Whisenhunt (Titans head coach).
The Eagle Ceremony ended with the reading of a congratulatory letter from Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner and the retiring of the colors.