On the afternoon of Jan. 6, as the first snowfall of the season started, Rev. Waldemart “Wally” Vinovskis spoke to a special gathering at The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, the words of Isaiah 40:30-31 saying, “Even those who are young grow weak; young people can fall exhausted. But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles: they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.”

For five Emmaus High School students, it was the beginning of a special moment in their lives. Surrounded by family and close friends, as well as Scouts from across the area, Aidan Arakkal, Ryan Bennett, Ben Fletcher, Charlie Peters and Greg Smith, each took the oath to reach the rank of Eagle Scout in a special 90-minute celebration.

Since 1912, two million Boy Scouts have earned the Eagle Scout rank with each doing their best to be a good example and influence others to be good citizens.

The Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony is steeped in Scout tradition. From the “Presentation of the Colors” by Senior Patrol Leader Cooper Gabriel to the “Lighting of the Eagle Trail” by Scout Ben Roth and Former Assistant Scoutmaster Eric Gopen, words of both wisdom and pride were echoed by each dignitary invited to speak.

One of those guests was Principal Beth Guarriello of Emmaus High School, where these new Eagle Scouts all attend.

She told those in attendance, “These students’ journey to Eagle Scout reflects not only personal growth but a deep sense of community.”

State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-187th, told the Scouts, “The same things that helped you along the way to attain the rank of Eagle Scout are going to be the same things that help you out for the rest of your lives.”

Unable to attend, state Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-16th, sent staff representative Gary Day, who said, “We look forward to the great things you are going to do in the community here. If you go away to train for education, for a job, we all hope that you come back here and support and build the community further with the skills you have.”

Scoutmaster John Gable told these five young men, “There may be former Scouts but there are no former Eagle Scouts. Once an Eagle Scout, you will always be an Eagle Scout.”

Gable spoke of the obligations which come with being an Eagle Scout: Live with honor, loyalty, courage and service.

One by one, the Eagle Scouts thanked their mentors, fellow Scouts, volunteers and their parents, the latter being of great importance to each. Special pins were placed on each mother and father, a moving moment for all those in attendance.

In a strong show of unity and strength, the afternoon ended with family and Scouts of all ranks joining the new Eagle Scouts, forming a circle.

The motto of the Boy Scouts is “Be Prepared.” These new Eagle Scouts are prepared.

Aidan Arakkal became a Bear Scout when he was in second grade. His Eagle project is described as follows:

“In an area of the Wildlands Conservancy’s newly acquired Black River Sanctuary, Aidan cleared a variety of invasive species in thick brush with the assistance of several Scouts. After the area was cleared, he repopulated the area with native plants and surrounded them with fencing to protect them from local wildlife.”

Ryan David Bennett became a Bear Scout in third grade. His Eagle project is described as follows:

“He built a local trailhead within Lower Macungie Township at Camp Olympic Park. With the help of local businesses, Troop members and some friends and family, Ryan constructed the trailhead which details the park’s features and amenities. The trailhead also depicts the disc golf course, the Emmaus High School Cross Country course and local trails.”

Benjamin Graham Fletcher has been a Wolf Scout since second grade. His Eagle project is described as follows:

“He ran a drive collecting bikes to donate to Community Bike Works in Allentown. With help from family and Troop members, the bikes were collected and transported to Allentown for use in their various programs. His project overall delivered 75 bikes to support and continue their programs.”

Charles David Peters III became a Tiger Scout when he was six years old. His Eagle project is described as follows:

“He cleaned out, waterproofed and organized the basement of the historic Bortz Log House of the Lower Macungie Township Historical Society. Over several weekends with the help of Troop members, friends and family, Charlie removed 30 years worth of no longer used material, applied waterproofing paint, built shelves and a workbench. This project created usable storage space for the historical society to organize and store its artifacts.”

Gregory Joseph Smith became a Tiger Scout in first grade. His Eagle project is described as follows:

“He built a run-in shed at Mountain View Horse Rescue in New Tripoli. With the help of his family members and some other members of the Troop, Greg planned and constructed a run-in shed, which shelters donkeys, miniature horses and goats from inclement weather.”