Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery credits his background in Scouting with helping him overcome a major knee injury during the 2024 NFL season.
After tearing his MCL in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills, Montgomery chose rehab over surgery and returned in time for the playoffs. He says the resilience and mindset he learned as an Eagle Scout — especially the motto “Tough times don’t last; tough people do” — played a key role in his recovery.
“I used that moment Scouting taught me to kind of be that same way when I was injured,” he shares. “I was like, ‘OK, It’s not ideal. It’s not what I want, but it’s fine. The world goes on.’ You got to keep working and just keep your head down and the cream will rise to the top.”
Now serving as a recruiting ambassador for Scouting America, Montgomery aims to inspire young people by showing how the lessons from Scouting can support both personal growth and professional success.
Read more about this story on the People website.
Brothers tackle hunger, one sandwich at a time
Zayne and Kenric Nair, both Eagle Scouts from Marietta, Georgia, spent six weeks of their summer making 2,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Sandwich Project of Atlanta, a nonprofit fighting food insecurity.
Motivated by concerns over students losing access to free school meals during summer break, the pair set a goal of 2,025 sandwiches. They organized weekly sandwich-making sessions, turned their dining room into a prep center and enlisted help from the community.
The brothers say the project taught them the impact of community service and inspired them to aim even higher in the future.
Read more about this story on the Marietta Daily Journal website.
Lines repainted, legacy remembered
Daniel Beers is completing his Eagle Scout project by repainting faded parking and helicopter landing lines at a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office substation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The project honors his father, Lt. Fred Beers, who died in a 2022 helicopter crash caused by mechanical failure, along with three other deputies.
Read more about this story on the KOAT 7 website, or watch the video below.
Scout’s training kicks in during emergency
Sixteen-year-old Kenny Recor didn’t hesitate when a man collapsed near Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Visiting the island, Kenny saw bystanders rushing to help and immediately sprang into action.
An off-duty nurse had already begun CPR, but Kenny knew they urgently needed an AED. Despite struggling with asthma and facing steep uphill terrain, he sprinted to retrieve the device.
“I was breathing heavily, but it didn’t feel like I was getting oxygen to my lungs,” Kenny recalled. “But someone was actively dying, and I knew I had to act.”
He returned quickly and handed the AED to his Scout leader, who used it to revive the man.
Thanks to the swift teamwork of the nurse, Kenny and the Scout leader, the tourist survived. Officials praised the rescue, calling it a powerful testament to how CPR training and access to AEDs can save lives.
Kenny said he’s proud his training prepared him for that critical moment — and grateful he was able to make a difference.
Read more about this story on the WZZM 13 website.
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