Eagle Scout Ceremony

Opening Ceremony 
(American flag and troop flag are already in place)
(SPL and three scouts come forward)
SPL: An honored symbol of our nation's unity, its hopes, achievements, glory and successes - the flag of the United States of America is such a symbol - of freedoms bravely fought for and toughly won - of protection under the Constitution of the rights and privileges of all Americans - promises of fulfillment of all their hopes, principles and ideals. It is also a symbol of the duty of all her citizens to serve in time of need, to speak out for what each considers right, and to help correct under the law, that which is honestly believed to be wrong. Throughout the ages, man has developed character, courage, and strength by devotion to the symbols he believed in. That is the heritage this symbol has left us.
First Scout: The red of my flag is the lifeblood of brave men ready to die for this country or to live strongly in its service. (Lights the red candle)
Second Scout: The white of my flag is for purity and cleanliness of purpose, thought, word, and deed. (Lights the white candle)
Third Scout: The blue of my flag is for faith and loyalty, like the eternal blue of the star-filled heavens. (Lights the blue candle)
SPL: Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

          I now invite all scouts to join me in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. 
SPL: I would ask ______________ to open our ceremony with a word of prayer. (presenter comes forward)
Invocation  
SPL: Please be seated (The SPL, three scout presenters, and the person who gave the invocation take their seats at this time)
Welcome and Official Opening
Scoutmaster: Welcome. Today we have the honor and pleasure of recognizing ______________ for the rank of Eagle Scout. He has been tested along the scouting trail and has earned at least twenty-one merit badges. He has been involved in service to the community in numerous ways and has developed into a leader in both scouting and his community. His parents and scout leaders have labored long and faithfully to develop him towards responsible citizenship through the Boy Scout program. These efforts now culminate in the presentation of the Eagle Award. The success of these efforts, however, will only be manifested in the way this new Eagle lives his life; for he has a duty to uphold the characteristics and qualities of those Eagles who have preceded him and those who will follow. 
SM: Let me now ask the Saugahatchee District ______________, __________________, to officially open this Court of Honor.
District Rep: By the authority vested in me by the Boy Scouts of America as a representative of the Saugahatchee District of the Chattahoochee Council, I now declare this Eagle Scout Court of Honor for ______________________, officially open.   
(District Rep returns to his seat)
Trail to Eagle
SM: ________________ will now read the poem, “100 Scouts.”
Poem Presenter: Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but later in life, all of these will remember that they had been in Scouting and most will speak well of the program.
Of the one hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the one hundred will be from families that belong to no church. Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives. Six of the one hundred will become pastors.
Each of the one hundred will learn something from Scouting, and all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees, profit from their Scout training. At least one will use it to save another person's life, and many may credit it for saving their own.
Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred boys will become adult leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys.
One in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders of this nation in business, religion and politics, three out of four were Scouts.
This story will never end. Like the 'Golden Pebble' of service dropped into the human sea, it will continue to radiate in ever-widening circles, influencing the characters of men through unending time.
(Poem presenter returns to seat)
Eagle Scout Challenge (may be given by scouts, family members, mentors, or a combination of designated people)
Scout 1: The foremost responsibility of an Eagle Scout is to live with honor. To an Eagle Scout, honor is the foundation of all character. He knows that "A Scout is trustworthy" is the very first point of the Scout Law for a good reason. An Eagle Scout lives honorably, not only because honor is important to him but because of the vital significance of the example he sets for other Scouts. Living honorably reflects credit on his home, his place of worship, his troop, and his community. May the white of the Eagle badge remind you to always live with honor.
Scout 2: The second obligation of an Eagle Scout is loyalty. A Scout is true to his family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation. His loyalty to his troop and brother Scouts makes him pitch in and carry his share of the load. All of these help to build the loyalty that means devotion to community, to country, to one's own ideals, and to God. Let the blue of the Eagle badge always inspire your loyalty.
Scout 3: The third obligation of an Eagle Scout is to be courageous. Courage has always been a quality by which men measure themselves and others. To a Scout, bravery means not only the courage to face physical danger, but also the determination to stand up for the right. Trusting in God, with faith in his fellow man, he looks forward to each day, seeking his share of the world's work to do. Let the red of the Eagle badge remind you always of courage.
Scout 4: The fourth obligation of an Eagle Scout is to be cheerful. To remind the Eagle Scout to always wear a smile, the red, white, and blue ribbon is attached to the scroll of the Second Class Scout award, which has its ends turned up in a smile.
Scout 5: The final responsibility of an Eagle Scout is service. The Eagle Scout extends a helping hand to those who still toil up Scouting's trail, just as others helped him in his climb to the Eagle. The performance of the daily Good Turn takes on a new meaning when he enters a more adult life of continuing service to others. The Eagle stands as protector of the weak and helpless. He aids and comforts the unfortunate and the oppressed. He upholds the rights of others while defending his own. He will always "Be Prepared" to put forth his best. 
(Challenge presenters return to their seats)
Eagle Scout Charge and Promise
SM: Will the honor guard please escort ______________ and his parents forward.
__________, the Scouts of all nations constitute one of the most meaningful and significant movements in the world's history. You have been judged by the Boy Scouts of America as being worthy of this honor. All who know you rejoice in your achievement.  
Your position is one of honor and responsibility. As an Eagle Scout, you have a solemn obligation to do your duty to God, to country, to your fellow Scouts, and to mankind in general. This is a great undertaking. As you live up to your obligations, you bring honor to yourself and to your brother Scouts.
America has many good things to give you and your children after; but these good things depend for the most part on the quality of her citizens. Our country has had a great past. You can help make the future even greater. 
I charge you to undertake your citizenship with a solemn dedication. Be a leader, but lead only toward the best. Lift up every task you do and every office you hold to the highest level of service to God and to your fellow man. 
Live and serve in such a way that those who know you will be inspired to finer living. I charge you to be among those who dedicate their hearts, hands, skills, and abilities to the common good. Help to build America's future by continuing to set an example of clean living, honest work, unselfish citizenship and reverence for God, whatever others may do. You will leave behind you a record of which you may be justly proud. 
I charge you to enter this Eagle Scout brotherhood holding without reservation and ever before you the ideals of honor and service. By the repetition of the Eagle Scout promise before your fellow members, you will become an Eagle Scout. When you pledge yourself on your sacred honor, you will be sealing your eternal loyalty to the code of the Eagle Scout with the same words which closed the Declaration of Independence.

(The Eagle Promise may be administered by the scoutmaster or any designated person chosen by the Eagle Scout. That person is introduced as this time.) 
Eagle Promise presenter: ________, you have heard the responsibilities of an Eagle Scout. Are you willing to accept these responsibilities and make this promise?
Eagle Scout: I am.
Eagle Promise presenter: I invite all Eagle Scouts here today to please stand and renew your Eagle Scout promise as ___________ joins our brotherhood. Scout sign. Repeat after me. 
I reaffirm my allegiance
To the three promises of the Scout oath
I thoughtfully recognize
And take upon myself
The obligations and responsibilities
Of an Eagle Scout
On my honor, I will do my best
To make my training and example
My rank and my influence
Count strongly for better Scouting
And for better citizenship
In my troop
In my community
And in my contacts with other people
To this I pledge my sacred honor
________, by the authority vested in this Court of Honor by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America and by recommendation of the persons who have investigated your credentials, your leadership practice and your character, I have the honor to pronounce you an Eagle Scout.
(Eagle Promise presenter takes his seat)
SM: I will now ask your mother to present you with your Eagle Award. 
(SM hands the mother the Eagle Medal and she pins it to the Eagle Scout’s left pocket flap.)
SM: _________, please share some of your accomplishment with those who have supported you on your journey to Eagle with the presentation of the parent’s Eagle Scout Pins and your Eagle Mentor pin(s). (Mentor pin(s) may be presented later during the Eagle Scout’s remarks) 
Eagle Scout: (presentation of pins)
SM: I would now like to ask ___________________ to come forward and present the Eagle Scout neckerchief to _________.
Neckerchief presenter: As a token of our pride in your achievement, it is my honor to present you this special neckerchief, which is the symbol of all Eagle Scouts.
(Removes troop neckerchief and replaces it with Eagle Scout neckerchief)
Wear this neckerchief proudly to all formal scouting occasions and Eagle Courts of Honor you attend in the future. Let this neckerchief help show others that you are an Eagle Scout. Wearing this neckerchief will inspire younger scouts to follow the long trail you have travelled to become an Eagle Scout.
(Neckerchief presenter returns to seat)
SM: The Troop now has a special gift for ____________.
SM or designated presenter: _________, by virtue of your earning the Eagle Award, you are eligible to become a member of the National Eagle Scout Association. Troop ___ has enrolled you as a member in the association and I have the honor of presenting your membership to you. Fail not your fellow Eagles, for your responsibilities are now greater than before. As you go forward in life, receiving other honors and awards, always remember this day when you became an Eagle Scout. 
(Presentation of the NESA materials – designated presenter returns to seat)
SM: ___________ parents also have some special recognition for him. (Presentation)
SM: ___________, now is your opportunity to say a few words.
Eagle Scout: (written remarks, may include presentation of the mentor pin(s) at this time)
SM: I’ll now ask ________________ to offer a prayer as we close this Court of Honor. 
Closing Prayer (presenter returns to their seat following the prayer)
SM: All are invited to stay for a reception in ___________ honor. Thank you for attending.