Brothers soar to Eagle

Brad and Troy Martin spoke with U.S. Senator Jim Talent following Saturday's Boy Scout Eagle Court of Honor. Talent was the speaker at the ceremony, held in Cape Girardeau. [Click to enlarge]

Brothers often share a common bond that only they can understand. Knowing what the other one is thinking, or just how to push the other's buttons are common traits among siblings.

One far more uncommon shared distinction among brothers is that of achieving the rank of Eage in Boy Scouting. Brad and Troy Martin of Dexter are two such rarities. Only one percent of Boy Scouts go on to achieve Eagle Scout status.

Brad, 19, was inducted into the Eagle Scout ranks in June of 2003 and his brother, Troy, 17, followed in Nov. Both receive official honors at a ceremony at the Show-Me Center on Saturday, Feb. 14. U.S. Senator Jim Talent was the principal speaker at the proceedings.

The two brothers were seen through all of their Boy Scouting duties by their Scout Master and father, Bob Martin.

In order to achieve Eagle Scout, a young man must earn 21 merit badges and complete a community service project outside of Boy Scouting.

Of the 21 badges, 11 are required, but the remaining ten are elective and boys can choose the areas they would like to study. They are also required to hold a leadership position within the troop.

"You also have to show leadership qualities and be a Boy Scout for at least three years," Brad said. Brad and Troy have both been Boy Scouts for five years.

Brad and Troy each chose their own community service project to complete their Eagle Scout requirements.

Brad constructed a watchable wildlife viewing area on Wappapello Trail and Troy built a new 20x20 storage shed at the United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Men are one of the two sponsors for the boys' troop, Troop 200 in Dexter. The second troop sponsor is the Dexter Kiwanis Club.

The young men said these projects took a lot of hard work and about two months to complete, but the service project is not a lesson in hard labor.

"They do not do all of the construction work, themselves," Bob Martin said. "They have to find people to work with them on the project, organize getting funds and donations, secure materials and organize labor for the project."

"Then once the project is underway, the Boy Scout must make sure there are set dates for work and make sure it is completed."

The elder Martin said he enjoys the opportunity to work with youth and help them throughout their formative years.

"You get to see them achieve the goals they set for themselves," he said. "Like anyone that enjoys working with the youth, you put their interests at heart."

Martin said the Boy Scouts are an increasingly rare organization that still holds true to its values.

"They are still one of the organizations that believes in God and have a program that helps boys grow into young men, and into good citizens," Martin said.

Martin said few Boy Scouts choose to stay with the program long enough to realize Eagle Scout status.

"They find other interests and distractions that cause them to drop out for one reason, or another, but it is an excellent program," Martin said.

Martin said the Boy Scout program has many benefits for young men and those lessons learned will be carried with a scout throughout their lives.

"I think it's a wonderful program," Martin said. "It helps to make our youth better people and better citizens. As better citizens, no matter what community they decide to settle in, they will help make that community a better community."

The Martins attend Dexter High School. Brad plans on pursuing a degree in forestry at the University of Missouri, Colombia and Troy would like to study computer science, or chemistry/biology at Southeast Missouri State University