Patrick McCammond of Troop 446 Takes Eagle Scout Oath

The Eagle Award is the highest and most coveted rank in Scouting; the last major step in the advancement program. Just 1 out of 50 scouts, or 2%, in the United States reach the Eagle Rank. At this point, an Eagle Scout will have achieved those goals in the building of character, by the training of leadership, and in the exemplary practice of service which are the trademark of an Eagle Scout.

One additional requirement for the Eagle Award is the completion of an approved service project benefiting the candidate’s religious institution, school, or community. Patrick, in close coordination with the Carteret County Veterans Council and the Carteret County Services Office, chose to do a project benefiting the more than 9,000 veterans in Carteret County, North Carolina. He created a web site with information specifically designed for veterans use. The information in this web site is both available and useful to not only the veterans of Carteret County, but to veterans of the entire state of North Carolina and the United States.

At the ceremony, Patrick not only received the rank of Eagle, but received word of a special tribute paid to him by Congressman Walter B. Jones on the floor of Congress on Tuesday, March 2nd, 1999 for Patrick’s service to the veterans’ community with his Eagle Project and his exemplary achievements in the Boy Scouts. The tribute was read to Patrick during ceremony by the Carteret County Veterans Services Officer, Mr. Hank Gotard. The Congressman's presentation was aired on C-Span.

Patrick was presented with a U.S. flag that was flown over our nation’s Capital at the request of Senator Jesse Helms to honor the occasion of Patrick attaining Eagle rank. The flag was presented on behalf of Patrick’s parents to remind Patrick of his duty to country, which is part of the Scout Oath. Both parents are retired Marine Corps Officers with 46 years of military service between them.

Mrs. Dianne Browning, the troop’s advancement chairman, presented Patrick with a handsome binder containing dozens of congratulatory letters and certificates from past US Presidents (Presidents George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmie Carter, and Gerald Ford), Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court, elected and appointed national, state, and local officials, religious leaders of his Roman Catholic faith, his school at Annunciation Catholic School in Havelock, veterans organizations, military leaders, and others who are in public service and the business community from across the nation. Representative Ronald Smith of the House of Representatives, North Carolina General Assembly, in addition to his letter and NC House certificate, sent a North Carolina flag that was flown over the State Capital on July 7, 1998. Incidently, on that date Patrick was in the middle of "the best week of my life" --  sailing and sleeping on a sailboat on the Pamlico River as part of a High Adventure week from Camp Bonner High Adventure Base at Blout's Creek, NC.

When Mr. Edwin Holt, Committee Chairman of Troop 446, gave the Eagle Challenge to Patrick and invited Patrick to make a few remarks, Patrick responded with a speech that honored all who helped him through his years while on the Eagle trail.  He thanked those who helped carry out his Eagle project.  He also thanked his teachers, parents, and family for their unfailing support. Patrick then gave words of advice to the boys who are still on the "trail to Eagle".  He called their attention to a poem entitled "It Couldn’t Be Done" by Edgar A. Guest, a gift to each, found printed on the back cover of the ceremony program.  He said that this poem served to inspire him to work through the many challenges while completing his project.  He added that although it was his last step to Eagle, it was his most difficult one.  He added that he hoped it would inspire them in the same way.

Mr. Ed Jacques, the institutional representative from Patrick’s Cub Scout Pack, Pack 551 and Patrick's Ad Altare Dei religious medal counselor, surprised everyone by his presentation of an Eagle Scout ring from an unnamed gentleman whom Patrick had never met. As the story goes, Mr. Jacques ran into the man at a restaurant and told him about the Eagle ceremony he would be attending that afternoon. Upon hearing this, the man then told Mr. Jacques that he had something special for the boy. Many years ago, the man was a Boy Scout who was given an Eagle ring but never wore it because he did not attain the rank. Although he had been involved in scouting for many years, he held onto it until he felt compelled to have Mr. Jacques deliver the ring to the young man at the ceremony. Mr. Jacques then presented the Eagle ring to Patrick. He would not reveal the man's name.

Outside of his active life as a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Patrick serves as the Eighth Grade Class Representative to his school’s Student Council at Annunciation Catholic School, maintains a "B" average in his studies, and is a state-level swimmer on the Carteret Currents Swim Team and recently competed in the nine-state Southeast-Atlantic Region. Patrick, in 1998, was a VFW Post of Havelock first place winner for the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars essay contest on "Patriotism". He was selected as one of 32 students from hundreds in the entire state of North Carolina to be a NC First Flight Ambassador program for the Class of 2003, First Flight Centennial. While in seventh grade, Patrick was awarded his school’s citizenship award. Patrick is active in his church and sets a good example to all he meets. In his actions and in his deeds, Patrick reflects those great scouting virtues which we all admire.

Patrick McCammond is a member of Troop 446 of Cape Carteret. Troop 446 Scoutmaster - Mr. Jerry Browning, Assistant Scoutmasters - Mr. Tony West, Mr. Chuck Rhodes, Mr. Don Triner; Committee Chairman - Mr. Edwin Holt; Committee Members - Mrs. Diane Browning, Mr. Dwight Harris, Mrs. Janette West, Mrs. Penny Witherington; Commissioner - Mrs. Penny Witherington, Senior Patrol Leader - Daniel Rhodes, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader - Bill Betz, Tiger Patrol Leader - Noah Simpson; Wolf Patrol Leader - Kyle Holt.

See also:  PROJECT PICTURES