WIESBADEN, Germany - Three U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Eagle Scouts have already left their marks on Germany.
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But for the newest recipients of the Boy Scout's highest honor, there's no end in the trail for leadership, service and perseverance.
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On June 8 Josh Halstead, Alex Leknes and Carl Ravensbergen took the Eagle Scout oath during a ceremony at the Hainerberg Chapel.
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To receive the rank of Eagle Scout each boy had to earn 21 merit badges, serve six months in a troop leadership position, develop and implement a community service project and complete an Eagle Scout board of review.
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"They do the work," said Jeff Stone, Scout master for Troop 107. "They earn the badges, they demonstrate the leadership, they perform the service, and they have to persevere."
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For the community service projects, Halstead repaired and cleaned a baseball practice field in Frankfurt, Leknes repaired and painted a rest hut and picnic tables in the Breckenheim Stadtwald and Ravensbergen cleared an overgrown lot and planted grape vines in the garden at Eppstein Castle.
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"It's really cool to think there's a castle in Germany (that) I left my mark on," said Ravensbergen after taking the Eagle charge and oath making him an official Eagle Scout. "Every Scout should aim to get to (this) point."
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From 1912 to 2009, about 2 million boys have earned the title of Eagle Scout. In 2009 about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts earned the Eagle Scout award.
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"But of 100 boys who join scouting, all will learn something," said Stone.
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And from film director Steven Spielberg, who first explored his passion for films earning a photography merit badge, to Neil Armstrong, an Eagle Scout who went on to walk on the moon, Boy Scouts have blazed a trail around the world and beyond.
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So to find three more boys have cut their own paths in a foreign country isn't surprising, but it's worth recognition said Wiesbaden Scout organizers.
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Halstead received a letter of congratulations from Adm. Mark P. Fitzgerald, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe.
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Ravensbergen received a letter of congratulations from Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe.
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Leknes received a letter of congratulations from Gen. Roger Brady, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe.
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The newest Eagle Scouts thanked their parents for their support in reaching the highest Boy Scout honor.
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And Leknes noted the path to Eagle Scout wasn't easy.
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"Scouting isn't easy," he said. "You need to plan ahead."
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