Most boys never make it to Eagle Scout. But Troop 64 seems to have the knack of developing them

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Troop 64 in Westmoreland has produced a surprising number of Eagle Scouts – the highest honor granted by the Boy Scouts of America. And, on Monday evening, October 28, another young man became an Eagle Scout at the Troop's meeting at Moreland Presbyterian Church.

Aidan Burns, a senior at Cleveland High School, was honored – and said he'd started Boy Scouts when in sixth grade, and kept with it.

"It's been a long road for me, and I'm happy to be finally getting here; I will turn 18 years old at the end of December," Burns said. "Having the accomplishment of saying that I am an Eagle Scout is pretty cool!"

With both his father and uncle also having been Eagle Scouts, Burns said he was motivated to follow their footsteps in the program. "Tonight, during the Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony, I will join them," he smiled.

"I've had a lot of great experiences; and hopefully I've come out a better person. It's taught me a lot about perseverance; 'pushing through' when times get tough – whether it's on the hiking trail, or in the classroom, perseverance is good – and learning to be compassionate toward everyone is something I will carry forward in life," Burns told THE BEE.

"I recommend Scouting to any young person," Burns remarked. "You learn many new things, but the best is that you get to bond with many people you otherwise would not have met, and form some of the best friendships you will ever have."