Family, friends and members of Boy Scout Troop 12 of the Minsi Trails Council, gathered recently to celebrate Brett Sonntag's presentation of the Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts of America.

The rank presentation celebrated Sonntag's achievements over 11 years of Scouting as a member of Cub Scout Pack 12 and Boy Scout Troop 12 chartered by Asbury United Methodist Church in South Whitehall Township. He is a senior at Salisbury High School.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest rank earned by a Boy Scout. It requires completion of requirements for seven ranks and 21 merit badges.

Part of these requirements, the Eagle Scout Leadership Service project, is the final test requiring the Scout to demonstrate the leadership principles learned during his years as a Scout.

Sonntag's project consisted of constructing landscape improvements including trees, shrubbery, a bench and paver walkway around the Prayer Labyrinth at Asbury Church.

The project required 281 hours of planning, coordination meetings with church members and construction with the help of volunteers from Asbury Church and his Troop during evenings and weekends February to August 2014.

Financing for the project was made possible by church members and donations of equipment and materials from several community businesses, including TeenWorks of the Lehigh Valley, The Home Depot, the Ellenberger family, Tall Timbers Nursery and Asbury United Methodist Church.

U.S. Congressman Charles Dent, R-15th, presented Sonntag with a flag flown over the Capitol to recognize his achievements. Sonntag also received letters of congratulations from Dent, as well as Vice President Joseph Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Senators Pat Toomey, R, and Robert P. Casey, Jr., D, Governor Tom Wolf, state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, state Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131st, the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners, Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock and President Robert Gates of the Boy Scouts of America, The Sons of the American Revolution, Scout Executive and Chief Executive Officer of Minsi Trails Council Craig Poland and Witauchsoman Lodge No. 44 of the Order of the Arrow.