Eagle joins exclusive nest
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Sixteen year-old Daniel Romero was all smiles Saturday at the Ronan LDS church as he was given the most prized medal one can receive as a boy scout. He was presented in a ceremony before his peers, fellow scouts, friends and family with the prestigious Eagle Scout award, an honor achieved by only two percent of boy scouts in the United States.
“This is a very important event for him in his life, boy scout troop leader Howard Haslam said, “It’s more important than he realizes now.”
To earn the award of Eagle Scout, one must obtain 21 merit badges, and perform a public service project. The project requires that they plan, develop, and lead on their own. Scouts have until their 18th birthday to reach this goal. Daniel received it at the age of 16.
Merit badges are awards earned based on activities in an area of study by finishing a list of requirements. The required activities for each badge are designed to teach scouts about various careers.
According to Haslam, Daniel is one of the most remarkable boy scouts he has ever worked with.
“We’ve never had anyone in the history of our troops do this much in such a short period of time,” Haslam said, “I know of two people ever to get this kind of award.”
Daniel not only earned the required 21 merit badges to become an Eagle Scout, but went on to earn an additional 16 merit badges. If a scout continues to earn merit badges within three months of becoming an Eagle Scout, each five additional badges are called palms. A scout can earn a total of nine palms.
With more than 80 merit badges still available for him to obtain, Daniel says that he’ll continue until the cut-off age of 18 to see how many he can obtain. He just started on his fourth palm, and plans to earn all nine.
“I want to accomplish bigger things,” Daniel said in regard to working towards earning all nine palms.
Among guests at the event were Ronan cross country coach Gale Decker, who gave a short speech to inspire scouts to be a champion in whatever they do.
“Don’t be obsessed, but possessed to be the best you can be,” Decker stated to the crowd.
Father Roger Romero reminisced about his son’s trail to becoming an eagle. He began with a story of his son’s character as a young child, where he told the truth after getting into trouble at school.
“My son knew that being honest is more important than getting in trouble,” Roger said. “He’s become a leader… he won’t back down to anything.”
Haslam challenged the scouts.
“Be courageous… be brave, stand up for the right,” he said, “Be cheerful, always wear a smile… comfort the oppressed. This (Eagle Scout award) is the scouts’ highest honor, wear it with humility.”
Sargent Elias Boice of the U.S. Army was invited to present the United States Army Youth Certificate of Recognition to Daniel, along with brother John Romero, and Joey Dressen.
According to Boice, Eagle Scouts who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.
Daniel plans to attend Bringham Young University after high school, but doesn’t plan to go into the military.
“He’s really good with his hands,” Roger said. “He is fixing our kitchen table at school right now, so maybe he will go into woodworking.”
At the conclusion of the event, Haslam invited Daniel to join his fellow eagles in the nest, a ceremonial act, where Daniel was now welcome to sit among the most respected boy scouts. He will forever hold the title of eagle scout.
“Being an Eagle Scout carries a lot of weight on a resume,” Haslam said. “It proves that these young men can start something and finish it.”
According to Roger, Daniel received letters of congratulations from Vice President Joe Biden, George and Barbra Bush, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, the U.S. Department of Justice, Montana Senator Jon Tester, and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer to name a few.
“It’s a huge honor,” Daniel said with a shy smile.
