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Scouts confer Eagle status on 10 teens
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Ten teenagers representing Ripon Boy Scout Troop 440 with members from Manteca have finished their individual projects and will be honored Sunday in a Court of Honor at the Manteca City Council Chambers. They are, from left, Andrew Wood, Rhet Herrin, Adam Lawlor, Cameron Cardoza, Jared Lawlor, Adam Wood, Dallas Waters and Brandan Williamson. - photo by Photo Contributed

Ten Ripon and Manteca teens are being conferred Eagle Scout status during a Court of Honor Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Manteca City Council Chambers.

The boys are all members of Ripon Troop 440 that had previously turned out a dozen Eagles. The latest Eagle Scouts all have completed their  projects to aid the communities at large including the rebuilding of the Santa Hut that will soon be taken to downtown Manteca where children will once again make their trek to visit Santa.

Another Eagle project was the checking and replacing of fire alarms for residents of the Almond Blossom Mobile Home Park on East Yosemite Avenue. Key to the Eagle projects is the buddy system between Scouts where they all gather to help each other in carrying out and reaching their goals.

The honored Scouts include Andrew Wood, Rhet Herrin, Adam Lawlor, Cameron Cardoza, Adam Wood, Dallas Waters, Brandan Williamson, Trevor Thompson and Isaac Holt. Holt will not be present as he has moved to England and Trevor Thompson is currently on a mission trip for his church.

Since its inception 103 years ago in 1911 the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men. The requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating the Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that each Scout plans, organizes, leads and manages. Eagle Scouts are presented with a medal and a badge that visibly recognizes their accomplishments. 

Famous Eagle Scouts include Gerald R. Ford, U.S. 38th president; Steven Spielberg, award winning Academy Award film director; Neil A. Armstrong, first person to set foot on the moon; Robert Gates 22nd U.S. Secretary of Defense; Thomas R. Norris, U.S. Navy Seal and Medal of Honor recipient and Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The National Eagle Scout Association researched the total volunteer hours of all Eagle service projects ever completed with it coming to a total of more than 100 million hours of service by the Scouting teens. Annually new Eagle Scouts add more than three million more hours to the total. Eagle Scouts completed nearly 10 million hours of service in 2011.

At the end of Sunday’s Court of Honor the scouts will be greeted by family and friends enjoying light refreshments in the council chambers.