Submitted by Steve Denison
(July 2, 2025) — Haddam Scout Troop #44 conducted its Spring Court of Honor on June 21, 2025 at its monthly campout in Haddam. A Court of Honor is a formal ceremony in Scouting to recognize and celebrate Scouts’ achievements in earning merit badges and advancements in rank. The ceremony also provides time for the troop to come together and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of its members.
The ceremony is opened by lighting candles (photo above) and reciting the Scout Law which reminds Scouts of the twelve traits all Scouts must adhere to. “A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.”
During this time, the troop recognized Scouts for their hard work in developing the skills necessary to complete merit badges in a wide array of categories, including Citizenship, Camping, Farm Mechanics Repair and First Aid. Mark Pach, the Troop 44 Scoutmaster, presented a total of twenty merit badges in recognition of the Scouts hard work at the ceremony.
At the Court of Honor, five Scouts received commendations for advancing in rank because of their progress in completing tasks toward the highest rank of Eagle Scout. There are seven ranks in Scouts: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. The ranks are earned sequentially, starting with Scout and culminating in Eagle. To advance in rank, Scouts follow a rigorous set of tasks outlined in their Scout book, which guides a Scout through the process of learning various skills and demonstrating various leadership abilities. These tasks, once completed and demonstrated, are signed off on by a Scout leader or another Scout. Once a Scout has completed all the tasks necessary for rank advancement, the Scout presents their progress to the Scoutmaster and the troop leadership committee for review and approval. Great job, Caiden, Caleb, Declan, Liam, and Mason. Keep going strong in your journey to Eagle!
In addition to merit badges and rank advancements, this Court of Honor also included an Eagle Charge for Haddam Troop 44’s newest Eagle Scout, Liam Brown (photo below, with Scoutmaster Pach and Liam’s parents)
The Eagle Charge ceremony is a solemn reminder of the responsibilities and expectations that come with the Eagle Scout rank, emphasizing the virtues of courage, service and living an honorable life. The charge includes a reaffirmation of the Scout Oath and a pledge to uphold the ideals of Scouting and good citizenship. In essence, the Eagle Charge is a powerful and meaningful moment for the Eagle Scout, solidifying their commitment to the values and ideals of Scouting and setting the stage for a life of service and leadership.
Troop 44 has a long history of developing Eagle Scouts and has a robust program of support and guidance to encourage a Scout along their journey to the Scouts’ highest honor. The efforts of the Scout may be memorialized in the Eagle Charge ceremony, but an Eagle Scout designation lasts a lifetime and demonstrates the ability of the Scout to learn, follow directions, be kind to others, and to demonstrate responsibility and leadership.
Haddam Scout Troop 44 is open to youth ages 11 to 18 and meets weekly in the basement of the Haddam Congregational Church on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. any time school is in session during the school year. If you are interested in learning more about the troop, please contact Steve Denison at (860) 373-4688 or sdenison@liberty.edu or Dan Lamoureux at (860) 754-8336. We would love to tell you more about the exciting activities we have planned for next year.
Photos by Steve Denison
