In a ceremony held Sunday afternoon at Cheraw’s First Presbyterian Church, two members of First Methodist’s Troop 655 were awarded scouting’s highest honor. Robert Hainey and Parker Pierce stood before more than sixty family and friends to take the Eagle Pledge from Assistant Scoutmaster Harry Easterling, flanked by seven former Eagle scouts who were in attendance. Both Eagle candidates then received the Eagle Charge from Troop Committee Chairman Jerry Turner, admonishing them that upon joining the elite of scouting’s fraternity achieved by less than two percent of its membership they were “once an Eagle, always an Eagle.” Assistant Scoutmaster Jimmy Duffy reviewed the significant requirements completed by these young men in order to be considered for the rank of Eagle Scout.
As a part of the solemn and moving ceremony, the unseen “voice of the eagle” traced each scout’s path beginning with their Cub Scout experiences through their many rank advancements, leadership positions and community service opportunities to their current recognition as Eagle Scouts. In special recognition of the support of their families, each scout pinned a miniature Eagle award on the lapel of their mother and their father. Each mother then affixed the Eagle rank award to their son’s uniform, just above their heart.
Both Robert and Parker each spoke briefly to those assembled, identifying and thanking many of the scout leaders, community volunteers and family members who had lent their time, efforts, support and encouragement during the last eight years in their pursuit of this day. Fellow scouts Charles Easterling and Michael Wagnon presented the awardees each with a US Flag recently flown over the Capitol. The Eagle recipients were also presented with a Palmetto State flag and numerous letters of commendation from local, state and national political leaders acknowledging their achievement.
The Reverend Kyle Henderson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, offered some closing remarks in which he charged both Robert and Parker to continue to live out the ideals of both the Scout Oath and the Scout Law to which they had committed themselves for the previous eight years, noting that such devotion would make them better Christians, better men and contribute to a better world. Following the benediction a reception was held in the church fellowship hall honoring Robert and Parker at which time they received the personal congratulations of those present.