Boy Scout Troop 98 of Brodheadsville had a triple-header on July 18 when three young men attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Nathaniel G. Rhoads, Douglas J. Stangl and Theodore K. Graham, accompanied by families and friends, proudly made the transition before a full audience at Zion United Lutheran Church.Nathaniel is the son of Scoutmaster Steve and Cindy Rhoads; Douglas is the son of Andrea and Larry Kennedy; and Theodore is the son of Greg and Talitha Graham.In a ceremony marked by laughter and tears, the fledgling Eagles took off their bolo ties and replaced them with neckerchiefs.The ceremony included an invocation by Pastor E. Ann Melot, the Presentation of Colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, a recitation of the Scout Oath and Law, a reading of "the Spirit of Scouting," and a reading of a poem "It's Only a Pin."The poem describes the thoughts of a Boy Scout's mother as she guides him through the years of learning and work that lead to attaining the Eagle rank.The audience laughed as Scoutmaster Rhoads recalled funny incidents involving each of the Eagles. They included:Nathaniel, appearing before the Eagle Board for his final review, was asked what one point of the Scout Law "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent" he would take away."Reverent," Nathaniel replied."He didn't realize the first gentleman as he came in the door was the Pocono district chaplain, who almost fell out of his chair," Rhoads said.On a field trip, the Scouts had London broil for dinner, done on the grill. As night fell, Theodore helped clean up."At the end of the night, Teddy came in and said, 'Mr. Rhoads, the grill is still on. I need to turn off the grill but I can't see the knobs.' I loaned him my flashlight," Rhoads recalled.The lad came back after a few minutes, and told Rhoads it was a charcoal grill."I knew that, Teddy, and now so do you," Rhoads replied."Doug came to me one night at summer camp, saying his stomach hurt. Rhoads gave him some Pepto-Bismol. Later, Doug told Rhoads he had eaten 12 or 13 bags of Sun Chips."I said, oh, this too, shall pass," Rhoads recalled.When Rhoads went to Doug's campsite, he told the boys to pick up the chip bags that had been thrown all over the ground."But Mr. Rhoads, the label says they're biodegradable," Doug told him."They cleaned up the site," Rhoads said.Among the accolades given the new Eagle Scouts were a plaque from David Mondillo, Deputy Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 7141. The East Stroudsburg Elks Club bought the pins for the ceremony, and Exalted Ruler Harold Litts presented the young men with certificates from the Grand Lodge.Robert Smith, commander of the U.S. Submarine Veterans, Pocono Base, also presented certificates, and state Rep. Jack Rader Jr., R-176, read aloud the young men's accomplishments and presented them with copies of a state House resolution and one from the Monroe County commissioners.Chestnuthill Township supervisors Carl Gould and Chris Eckert also presented the Eagles with resolutions.About the ScoutsNathaniel G. Rhoads, the son of Cindy and Scoutmaster Steve Rhoads, cleared brush and built four park benches at McMichaels Community Cemetery. He also spread stone to create a parking area, and built and installed a sign. As he completed his project, Nathaniel also uprighted leaning grave markers, cleared trash and removed stumps.Theodore K. Graham, son of Talitha and Greg Graham, designed and built a pole beam structure to shelter the coyote at the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Cherry Valley. He also placed a concrete pad in the enclosure for easier cleanup and maintenance. He hopes the structure will be used as an example for future Eagle Scout projects at the center.Douglas J. Stangl, son of Andrea and Larry Kennedy, stained the outside of the new band shell at Chestnuthill Park, painted the trim and landscaped the front. He also laid mulch and planted shrubbery. He raised about $1,100 for materials and supplies, and completed the project in about two months, with the help of friends