260 boys receive Eagle Scout Award in largest-ever court of honor

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor last weekend was so big that it took an entire football stadium to hold it.

The court of honor was a big part of Utah’s annual Stadium of Fire, one of the country’s largest Fourth of July celebrations each year. More than 50,000 people filled BYU’s LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo for the event.

In all, 260 boys were presented with their Eagle Scout badge, which “set a record for the most to receive the award at the same time, with
recipients coming from 10 states and 14 Boy Scout councils to
participate,” the Deseret News reported.

It’s the latest example of Scouting taking the national spotlight during its 100th Anniversary celebration.

“For those who wonder if Scouting is still around, this is a great way
to say, ‘We sure are,'” Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca told the Deseret News. “This is sort of a
reaffirmation to the American people of the value that Scouting adds.”

In addition to Mazzuca, other noteworthy people were in attendance. Country superstar Carrie Underwood sang the National Anthem, and Provo resident Leonard “Woody” Woodland was recognized. At 98, Woodland is considered the oldest-living Eagle Scout.

Thousands of Eagle Scouts in the audience held up Eagle Scout emblems to create what producers called the largest “Eagle’s Nest” ever formed.

Stadium of Fire was formed in 1980 and has since included appearances by the Osmonds, the Beach Boys, Bob Hope, Toby Keith, the Blue Man Group, and many more.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.