FLEMING ISLAND – Guest speaker Robert Frederick Schlegal Jr., a retired U.S. Army colonel, told Eagle Scouts who were awaiting to receive their accolades for achieving the highest rank of the organization about the history of the Eagles and his struggle to earn his final merit badge to achieve the rank.

The 43^rd Annual Bartram Trail District Recognition Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 1, extended a tradition that started with 10 Eagles in the Class of 1982. The Class of 2024 honored 38 Eagles.

Schlegal told the newest class the first Eagle was Arthur Eldred in 1912. The Board of Review consisted of the National Commissioner, the National President, and other luminaries of the Boy Scouts of America, which had been formed two years earlier.

More than 2.5 million people have earned the rank of Eagle, according to Boy Scouts of America.

“I have been blessed to wear at least three different kinds of Eagle packages during my lifetime,” he said. “I was pleased to see that in scouting year 2020, the first class of female Eagle Scouts, numbering nearly 2000, received the Eagle Scout rank as I just celebrated my 80th birthday. I had been fortunate to see many changes in the scouting program.”

Schlegal said despite living on Long Island, New York, he couldn’t swim, and a swimming merit badge was required to become an Eagle.

“I had a big problem for somebody who lived right next to the mighty Hudson River: I could not swim,” he said. “When I was 2 or 3 years old, my uncle and sister pushed me back and forth on a lake on an inner tube in several feet of water, and somehow the inner tube and I turned over. It was a terrifying experience because it took them probably only a few seconds to get me up and above the water; it seemed like forever to this child. I'm sure that traumatized me and gave me a terrible fear of putting my head underwater.”

To earn his swimming merit badge, Schlegal had to jump into deep water, swim 25 yards from shore and swim safely back to shore.

An Eagle Scout named Fred McCaffrey took Schlegal “under his wings” and helped him conquer his fear of water and taught him to swim. Schlegal became an Eagle in 1960.

Today’s Eagles must earn at least 41 merit badges, demonstrate leadership within their troop, pass an Eagle Scout Board of Review and complete a significant community project.

The ceremony for Bartram Trail, which encompasses scouts from Clay, Putnam and Bradford counties, was at Sullivan Hall on the Sacred Heart Catholic Church campus. While some scouts couldn’t make the ceremony, most recognized awards and certificates of appreciation from civic and governmental groups like Clay Superintendent David Broskie, School Board Member Michele Hanson and Clay County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief of Patrol Chad Ricks for their accomplishments.

Each was adorned with light blue Eagle neckerchiefs by Bartram Trail District Director Jennifer Jeannotte and District Commissioner Jon Jaeger. North Florida Council CEO Kelvin Williams also met Scouts.

(Photos of each Eagle Scout being recognized can be found at claytodayonline.com).