By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Only a small percentage of boys who join the Boy Scouts of America reach the organizations highest honor of Eagle Scout. In 2010, only 5% of scouts became Eagles.
On Saturday, one Knoxville troop beat the odds and had nine scouts achieve that goal. The Eagle Scout ceremony was held at Buffat Heights Baptist Church. The scouts are from Troop 213.
"We asked them a year and half ago if they would like to do a ceremony together and they all voted together that's what they would like to do," said scoutmaster Alan Hancock.
They include Lloyd Winebarger, Gabriel Ross, Nathan Tolbert, John McGill, Sojourner McClure, Bobby McClure, Michael Hancock, Mark Crum, and Trevor Arms.
"There are a lot of responsibilities and requirements on the way to get the Eagle Scout," explained Eagle Scout Sojourner McClure
"It was not easy," said Eagle Scout John McGill. "A lot of work . . . had to get 20-something merit badges."
They had to get 21 merit badges to become Eagle Scouts.
"I really enjoyed electricity merit badge and aviation was fun," said Eagle Scout Trevor Arms.
"My favorite is Indian Lore," said Eagle Scout Gabriel Ross. "You got to learn about the Indians and their cultural."
"I liked wilderness survival the best," said Eagle Scout Michael Hancock. "We had to build our shelter and we had to cook a meal over a fire."
"Environmental Science probably the one I disliked the most," said Eagle Scout Bobby McClure. "The one I learned the most in was first aid. It will be the one I will apply the most in my life."
After earning the merit badges, these scouts then had to complete a community service project.
"For mine I built benches for Berean Christian School," said Ross.
"I did a trail at Highland Baptist Church and I called it Tranquility Trail," said Arms.
Each Eagle Scout had a different reason for wanting to accomplish this goal.
"I feel like when you start something you need to finish it," said Eagle Scout Lloyd Winebarger. "It's something that can help you all through life."
"It was important for me because my dad was an Eagle Scout, so it was a big deal," said Hancock. "It was a competition. I wanted to beat my dad. He waited until the last week to get his."
"It really helps you build friendships, and stuff," said Eagle Scout Mark Crum. "It teaches you basic outdoor skills."
"The Eagle Scout was very important to me because it was a continuation of everything I learned in the years I began," said Bobby McClure.
"It's been a journey of a lifetime for me really," said Eagle Scout Nathan Tolbert, "Twelve years now and been an experience I've enjoyed."
"To me it's a sign of maturity and a responsible in leadership when a young man can achieve the rank of Eagle Scout," said Sojourner McClure.
All of the new Eagle Scouts say they plan to continue with scouting, and hope to encourage new scouts to become Eagles.
"This is just one of the best times of my life," said Alan Hancock. "I've enjoyed this. I've been a scoutmaster a long time . . . it's always a job to see young men fulfill the dream."
Congressman John Duncan presented each Eagle Scout with a flag that had flown over the capital.
