On November 5, Boy Scout Troop 50 bestowed the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank during a ceremony honoring new Eagle Scout Aiden Brian Foreman Lytle. He is the son of Harry “Billy” and Barbara Lytle of Auburn.
 |
| (Left to right) Louie, Liam, Everett, Joe and Rusty help open the Eagle Scout Court of Honor. |
Current Senior Patrol Leader Jacob opened the court of honored, followed by several of Aiden's fellow Scouts — Louie, Liam, Everett, Joe and Rusty — reminded those in attendance of the meaning of the colors that comprise the American flag, not to mention the Eagle Scout badge. Scoutmaster Andrew Baird then presided over the ceremony, which included the recitation of the narrative reading entitled "100 Scouts."
 |
| Scoutmaster Andrew Baird administers the Eagle Scout Promise. |
 |
| Aiden's mom pins his Eagle Scout medal to his uniform. |
The ceremony continued with the Eagle Scout Promise and the presentation of the Eagle Scout medal to Aiden by his mom, Barbara Lytle, and his Eagle Scout neckerchief slide by his father and assistant scoutmaster, Billy Lytle. In turn, Aiden presented his parents with Eagle Scout parents pins, Mr. Baird presented Aiden with his framed Eagle Scout certificate, and Chartered Organization Representative Michael Tullier presented Aiden with his
National Eagle Scout Association membership credentials (a gift from the troop that it bestows on each of its new Eagle Scouts).
 |
Aiden presents his first Eagle Scout mentor pin to Scoutmaster Andrew Baird,
while other mentors Billy Lytle and J.P. Pendleton look on. |
 |
Billy Lytle returns Aiden's presentation of an
Eagle Scout mentor pin with a hug. |
The new Eagle Scout then expressed words of appreciation to his family, friends and fellow Scouts in attendance, especially those who had assisted him on his journey to achieving the Eagle Scout rank and with his Eagle Scout project. Aiden singled out those adults who he considered to be mentors along that path and presented each with an Eagle Scout mentor pin. They included Mr. Baird, his father, Assistant Scoutmaster J.P. Pendleton, Troop Committee Chair and his former cubmaster Rob Stanford, and Mr. Tullier (who also served as his Eagle Scout project coach and as the troop's chaplain).
 |
Aiden with other Pack 29 Webelos after
crossing over to Troop 50 in April 2014. |
Aiden joined the Boy Scouts in 2014 after earning Cub Scouting’s Arrow of Light. As a member of Troop 50, he has served in leadership positions that have included troop chaplain’s aide and lead troop instructor. Through his Scouting participation, he has earned 29 merit badges to date, qualifying him for a bronze Eagle palm at the time of his ceremony. He also has accrued 53 nights of camping, 103 hours of community service, and 38 hiking and backpacking miles.
 |
The outdoor seating Aiden and his volunteers constructed
for use on the front porch of the McLain Building. |
For his Eagle Scout leadership service project, Aiden enhanced the display of historical items in the
Lee County Historical Society’s McLain Building. This included cataloging undocumented historical items; identifying, tagging and photographing more than 450 uncatalogued items; and constructing a wooden bench to provide visitors with seating on the building’s front porch. His project accrued 129 volunteer hours from planning to completion, including the 46 hours he spent personally planning, leading and supervising the various stages of the project.
After completing the Eagle Scout rank requirements, which included planning and executing his service project, Aiden appeared before the Saugahatchee District’s Eagle Scout Board on Sept. 19, 2017. He is among the four Troop 50 Scouts to earn the Eagle Scout rank in 2017, and the
16 Scouts to earn the Eagle Scout rank since the troop’s founding in 2012.
Since the
first Eagle Scout was awarded in 1912, more than 2.4 million Boy Scouts have completed the
Eagle Scout’s performance-based rank requirements, which currently include serving in progressive leadership positions, demonstrating outdoor and Scouting skill competencies, earning at least 21 merit badges, and planning and executing a seminal Eagle Scout leadership service project. During 2016 alone, 55,186 Boy Scouts earned Scouting’s highest rank.
Currently, Aiden is a ninth grader at Auburn Junior High School and is a member of Auburn United Methodist Church.
For additional photos from Aiden's Eagle Scout Court of Honor and his Eagle Scout leadership service project, visit the troop's
online photo album.
