Two young men from Sammamish were recently honored by their local Scout groups with the highest rank a Boy Scout can attain — Eagle Scout.

At an Eagle Court of Honor at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in Sammamish on Sunday, Andy Howell and Tanner Johns of Sammamish Troop 500 were awarded the Eagle Scout rank, following an impressive Scout career during which they earned at least 21 merit badges.

Eagle Scouts are seen to exemplify Scout spirit, service, and leadership.

This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages. Eagle Scouts are presented with a medal and a badge that visibly recognizes the accomplishments of the Scout

Howell is a senior at Eastlake High School, and for his Eagle Project he organized a group of volunteers to spread gravel and clean up a trail in Timberline.

Tanner Johns, a junior at Eastlake, organized volunteers to make a gravel path through a soggy field to improve access to a little league baseball field.

The two young men have been active in Scouting and Cub Scouting for more than nine years, and through the efforts of their parents and many great scouting leaders they have participated in numerous service projects, dozens of campouts and several summer High Adventurs and Scout Camps.

Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men — a very low percentage of all Scouts.

The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.”

Congratulations to Howell and Johns, and all young Scouts giving back to their community on the Plateau.