Grandfather awards his Eagle medal to grandson

Tiger Scout Zachary Hearon looked over his grandfather’s Scouting memorabilia displayed at his pack’s blue and gold banquet. He was fascinated with the Eagle Scout award.

His grandfather, Russell Hayes, earned his Eagle in 1965 while a member of Explorer Post 44 in Millville, New Jersey. He remained active in Scouting for decades, and his daughters became Cub Scout leaders. For this blue and gold, Zachary’s pack celebrated Scouting’s Centenary by asking family members to show off their collections. 

“At that time, he asked if he could be an Eagle Scout. I said, ‘I don’t see why not,'” Hayes says. “That stuck with him — I was really proud of that.”

A decade later, Hayes and Hearon attended another Scouting ceremony: Zachary’s Eagle Scout court of honor.

“I remember being a little Tiger Cub running around telling my mom I want to be an Eagle Scout just like my grandpop,” Hearon said at his court of honor. “That little Tiger Cub was right, he made it.”

To honor his achievement, Hayes pinned his Eagle award that Hearon had admired years before on his grandson.

“To watch him go through Scouting was an honor for me,” Hayes says.

Eagles fly together

Sharing your Eagle award with a family member who has also reached the pinnacle of Boy Scout ranks isn’t a common practice, says Ryan Larson, National Eagle Scout Association associate director. It’s permissible as long as the award is BSA-issued.

It’s also a special, heartfelt way to welcome a new member to the Eagle Scout brotherhood.

Eagle Scouts sometimes soar within families. Those who do can be featured in Eagles’ Call, the official magazine for Eagle Scouts. Siblings and/or generations who have earned Eagle can submit photos that you could see on the quarterly magazine’s pages.

Eagles’ Call also highlights Eagles who are serving in our armed forces, have recently received outstanding recognitions or who have passed away. Please submit entries via online form, email or mail.

Family tradition

Reaching the Eagle Scout rank isn’t the only way Hearon is following in his grandfather’s footsteps. After earning his Eagle, Hayes volunteered as a Scoutmaster, committee member and assistant district commissioner.

“He’s going to stay with the troop,” Hayes says of his grandson.

A member of Troop 1065 in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, Zachary also serves as a peer leader in school and was inducted into the National Honor Society. He is also interested in pursuing engineering as a profession. Hayes is a retired mechanical engineer.

“He’s taking after me in that, too,” Hayes says.


About Michael Freeman 432 Articles
Michael Freeman, an Eagle Scout, is an associate editor of Scout Life and Scouting magazines.