FORT BRAGG, N.C. - When Clifton Middleton Jr. became an Eagle Scout in 1972, he could not have known that he was starting a Family tradition.
His sons Michael, Jacob and Capt. Timothy Middleton would later join him as Eagle Scouts in 1991, 1998 and 1988 respectively.
Clifton, a Vietnam War veteran, was also joined in distinction by his grandson and Timothy's son, Brandon, 18.
Brandon, who is a member of Troop No. 787 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Fayetteville, earned his decoration this year for a project he did to improve Nazareth House, a homeless shelter supported by Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network.
CIHN unites with churches and non-profit groups to provide food, shelter, services and ministry to the homeless.
Of his grandson's induction into the Eagle Scout Family tradition, Clifton said, "I think it's great. He made me very proud. He's done a fantastic job. I never could've imagined that when I earned Eagle Scout, that I'd have a grandson to earn Eagle Scout."
Brandon, who is a rising senior at Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, said he worked 127 hours over three weekends at Nazareth House. Some of the activities included painting, cleaning and feeding Families.
Some of the project's materials such as food and cleaning supplies were purchased using gift cards donated by Sam's Club and Wal-Mart, said Brandon's mother, Colleen. But, fundraisers held by Brandon covered the majority of the expenses, as well as the purchase of toys for young children.
Colleen said that Brandon also donated a twin bed and linens to Nazareth House.
Brandon, a linebacker on the JBHS football team, sets a great example for his peers, said his Scoutmaster Lance Lombardo.
"I've been doing this for several years, so I come into contact with a lot of fine, young men," said Lombardo. "Brandon is at the top of that group."
Lombardo said that Brandon extols the benefits of Boy Scouting so much to his teammates that some of them have even joined the troop.
"Brandon's one of those guys that, even as a teenager, shares the courage of his convictions," Lombardo said.
For his Eagle Scout project nearly 40 years ago, Clifton helped prepare a botanical garden for an azalea festival in Norfolk, Va. Timothy sponsored holiday activities from Halloween to Christmas for a retirement community in Portsmouth, Va.
The pursuit of the honor allowed the Family to spend quality time together, said Timothy, who serves with Company A, Support Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group.
"It's eight years of us going to troop meetings for an hour-and-a-half on school nights. The key is me looking at their future and helping them establish goals."
Timothy's younger children are also Scout members. Son, Dylan, 17, is currently working on his Eagle Scout project in Troop No. 787; Cody, 14, is a member of the same troop; and daughter, Rebekah is working toward her Silver Award as a Girl Scout in Troop No. 1260.
Timothy said that his youngest son, Andrew, 5, is so eager to become a Scout that he can hardly wait to join.
"He's very upset about it. He's at an instant-gratification age right now where he would like to participate," Timothy said. "It's a pretty-powerful Family tradition."
Brandon was pinned in a ceremony July 18 at the Fort Bragg Officers' Club. He has a scrapbook filled with congratulatory letters from various local and national leaders such as former President George Bush; Commander of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Maj. Gen. Thomas Csrnko; current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi; former Speaker Newt Gingrich; Pope Benedict XVI; Gov. Bev Perdue; and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Brandon said that he was given two U.S. flags from U.S. Rep. Michael McIntyre and from U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.
Brandon said after graduation, he intends to study biology to become a physical therapist.
He said he is happy to have become an Eagle Scout.
"I didn't let the Family down, so that was my first thought. I wouldn't have enjoyed that, but I get to be a part of something great. I get to be in the same group as my dad, my uncles and my grandfather, so I was really excited to get it."
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