The youngest Boy Scout in the history of Nesquehoning's Scout Pack 744 was elevated to the rank of Eagle on Saturday.

Matthew Santore, 14, was surrounded by pack mates, parents and local government officials at the Scout's sponsoring church, Meeds Methodist on Catawissa Street for the 11 a.m. ascension ceremony. Following in his older brother Chris Jr.'s footsteps, Matthew has continued the Santore family pack tradition of scaling the ranks at an early age. Matthew reached the rank of Eagle just one year before his brother Chris, who accomplished the task at the age of 15.According to their father, Christopher, Matthew first attended meetings before he was old enough to be a member."He was going to Scouts with his brother a long time before he was able to join," his father said. "He was determined."Santore is the 19th member of the Nesquehoning Troop since 1974 to reach Eagle status.The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance and continued with members of the 744 Pack conducting the symbolic candle lighting and reading of the seven Scout Laws."Scouting is a tradition that is now over 100 years old," Jake Snyder said.He quoted the Scouts' founding father, Baden Powell, saying, "Scouting is a man's job cut down to a boy's size."Santore reaching his goal is an example of that statement. It takes a lot of hard work to achieve the Eagle rank before being able to drive a vehicle. According to Scoutmaster Joe Trimmel, most Scouts don't accomplish crossing the Eagle finish line until closer to high school graduation."We remember well when you first came to the base of the cliff," Trimmel said."How you looked up with ambition and determination. Now that you are at the threshold of your goal, we welcome you. For you have done your climbing in a true Scout-like manner," Trimmel told Santore.For his Scout project Santore worked with Mauch Chunk Lake Park Director Dave Horvath to spruce up trails along the campground."We walk the trails a lot and noticed it needed work," Santore said."He worked on the Shoreline trail," Horvath said. "They cut brush and blazed a trail to make it easier for hikers and campers. They stained benches and helped install a new footbridge.""It was 113 man hours spread out over a few days. It took seven Scouts to finish," Santore said."It's a big improvement and it's much appreciated," Horvath said.Horvath said he wasn't surprised Santore accomplished his Scout goal at the young age."I coached him in baseball and he was always the type of kid who would pick himself up after a bad play and look forward to the next one."Carbon County Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein along with Commissioner William O'Gurek attended the ceremony, announcing a resolution declaring the day to be Matthew Santore Day."He's only 14 so to accomplish all of that in such a short time period shows us he's a dedicated kid," Nothstein said.The commissioner also gave credit to the family supporting the young Scout."A lot of people are behind these kids. If we had more kids in scouting like this, we would have a lot less problems then we have today."The eight grade Panther Valley student thanked everyone for attending the ceremony before extinguishing the candles. He plans to spend his summer playing baseball and hiking the newly finished trails.