Jefferson Freeman and Jeffrey McHale, both from Clarksville, were honored in a ceremony Aug. 10 -- the Eagle Court of Honor -- where they were awarded their Eagle Rank, becoming the first two Eagle Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 793.

Freeman, 18, was one of the original scouts in the troop, formed in 2001 and chartered by Glenelg United Methodist Church, while McHale, 18, joined a few months later. The boys took leadership positions early on and helped the troop to grow. Both had been Cub Scouts in Pack 737 as well.

For his Eagle project, Freeman planned and supervised the building of a pergola over the altar in the outdoor sanctuary area at Glenelg United Methodist Church. The project required Freeman to independently plan and manage a project that involved more than 200 man-hours to complete and was worked on by more than two dozen people.

McHale's Eagle project was carried out at the St. Louis Parish Cemetery Chapel. He supervised the sanding and staining of the floor and stairs of the upper sacristy with the help of more than 20 scouts, adults and friends. He also prepared the rest of the chapel for its dedication which took place in November 2007. The project required nearly 130 man-hours.

One of the highlights of Freeman's scouting career was serving as troop guide teaching younger scouts the skills of knot tying, lashing, water safety and cooking. He plans to remain active in Boy Scouts.

Over the years Freeman participated in dozens of monthly outings that included backpacking, whitewater rafting, skiing, climbing, and other outdoor adventures. Through these activities and working with younger scouts, he developed strong leadership skills and became a valued member of the troop.

The two Eagle Scouts went to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and Seabase in the Florida Keys. They consider these two high-adventure trips to be the most challenging and enjoyable opportunities in their scouting program.

Both Freeman and McHale are graduates of River Hill High School's class of 2008. Freeman is now at Colorado State University studying mechanical engineering. McHale, a member of River Hill's state championship football team, is attending Penn State University.

-- Christie Dumler

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