Last Tuesday, Tyler F. McGeehan, 17, joined an elite group when he officially accepted Scouting's highest rank. He is the 41st member of Troop 555, Penn Forest Township, to become an Eagle Scout.

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held in the Penn Forest Fire Hall, which is home to Troop 555, as well as Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. McGeehan's brother, Jake, 15, who is also a Boy Scout, served as master of ceremonies.Speakers included state Rep. Doyle Heffley, who is also an Eagle Scout. He advised McGeehan to always live by the Scout Law."These traits will get you through life," he assured McGeehan. "The leadership skills you learned are vital. We need good young men like you to lead us in the future."He promised McGeehan that "As you go through life, you will remember this night."Heffley presented McGeehan with a citation from the Pennsylvania State House.Other speakers included Harold J. Litts, of

B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge 319, East Stroudsburg, who presented McGeehan with an American flag. Dawn Phillips, Pocono District assistant district commissioner, read the poem "Give Me A Scout," and presented McGeehan with an Eagle statue.Carbon County Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard congratulated McGeehan, his parents Robin and Jack of Penn Forest, and the troop, on behalf of the board of commissioners.He presented McGeehan with a resolution from the board, which includes Commissioners Wayne E. Nothstein and William J. O'Gurek.Scouts from Troop 555 participated in the Court of Honor ceremony: Chris Miller, chaplain's aide, gave the invocation and the final blessing; Travis Huscha, senior patrol leader, recited the Scout Oath; and Eagle Scout Adam Dachowicz read the Scout Law as Chris Williams conducted the candle lighting.Eagle Scout Nathaniel Flick read the Eagle Scout Trail Ranks as Life Scout Tyler Devonshire lit the candles. Eagle Scout Sky Fogal read the Eagle Scout Challenge. Scoutmaster Ray Attewell conducted the Eagle Scout Ceremony. Eagle Scout Tim Miller read the Eagle Scout Obligations while Scout Sal Troia, assistant senior patrol leader, lit the candles.After McGeehan was presented the white neckerchief of an Eagle Scout, he honored his parents with special pins.Before turning the podium over to McGeehan, Attewell spoke about the project that helped the new Eagle achieve his goal.Attewell explained that McGeehan's project began a couple years ago. Troop 555 had sent a care package to Airman Matthew Molinari, Nesquehoning, who was serving in Afghanistan.The package, which weighed 64 pounds and contained more than enough for Molinari's squadron, so impressed the airman, that he sent the troop a flag that had flown over Afghanistan to thank them.In need of a Leadership Project at the time, McGeehan built a wood and glass case to house the flag and accompanying certificates.After learning of McGeehan's handiwork, Lisa Gradl, whose son, Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert S. Coleman, was serving in Iraq, contacted Attewell. She had a flag her son had sent her that had been flown in Iraq. He wanted it to go to his alma mater, Jim Thorpe Area High School.Gradl suggested a case be built for the flag as an Eagle Scout project.Attewell explained that the scope of an Eagle Scout project would encompass much more than building a case, but promised Gradl that at the very least, a case for the flag would be built.After discussing her request with Tyler's father, who serves as the troop's LIFE Scout to EAGLE coordinator, Attewell and McGeehan came up with a potential Eagle Scout project for Tyler."Tyler took the ball and ran with it," Attewell said.Building on honoring members of the military, McGeehan's project is a large wood and glass display case that holds the names of graduates of Jim Thorpe High School who served in the U.S. military.Each serviceman or woman has a metal plaque bearing his or her name, the year of graduation and the branch of the military in which they served or are serving. On the back is a Velcro strip which allows the plaque to be moved if necessary to allow for additions to the display case.To ensure future graduates will be recognized, McGeehan made arrangements for the school's librarian and its National Honor Society to maintain the project in perpetuity.Gradl passed away three weeks ago, but Attewell said she was "pleased and satisfied" with McGeehan's project.When it was his turn to speak, McGeehan recognized two of his fellow Eagle Scouts, Tim Miller and Nathaniel Flick, who have been with him all through Scouting. He thanked his troop, Scoutmaster, his parents and brother as well.McGeehan is a junior at The Foreman School in Connecticut. Upon graduation he intends to seek a degree in engineering.In the meantime, he plans to continue in Scouting and will join his troop whenever possible.Although he admits to being "a little nervous" before the ceremony, McGeehan said officially becoming an Eagle Scout "is great.""It's cool because I know I can use this my whole life," he said.McGeehan said his proudest moment in Scouting came "when I first had my Board of Review, and they passed me." This happened last July."The whole experience of Scouting is a great thing," said McGeehan. "It teaches you a lot of great life lessons."After the ceremony, Attewell heaped praise on the newest Eagle Scout."I've always applauded the concept of an Eagle Scout project; giving young men the opportunity to lead others in a project to benefit their community," Attewell said."Tyler's project was unique in that it managed to transcend time somehow; bringing much deserved recognition not only to present and future service men and women; but to many from years gone by as well."Among the many congratulatory cards, letters and citations, McGeehan received congratulations from President Barack Obama; Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett; U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey; David Montgomery, part-owner of the Philadelphia Phillies; Rodney Erickson, president of Penn State University; and Mike Rowe, host of the television show "Dirty Jobs."