Since 1941, 39 Boy Scouts from Troop 33 in Middlefield have earned the most distinguished honor in scouting, the rank of Eagle Scout.
On Wednesday evening half of them, including longtime Middlefield resident Mickey Fowler, who earned the town's first Eagle Scout badge 70 years ago, gathered at the Peckham Park Pavilion for the dedication of the Eagles Nest, a well deserved tribute to a group that has given back so much to the community.
One by one, Scoutmaster Robin Heath named off Troop 33's Eagle Scouts, taking the time to personally recognize each one that had come to the ceremony or family members who came in their place.
"I'd like to start out in 1941 with Mr. Fowler. Without him where would we be?" Heath asked exuberantly.
All but seven of the 39 Eagle Scouts from Middlefield earned their Eagle Scout badge after Heath's son, Eric Heath, joined the Eagle Honor Roll in 1996.
"And then we started to roll," Heath told the crowd of about 75 gathered at the pavilion.
Since 1998 the numbers are impressive. 32 total Eagle Scouts, including five in 1999, five in 2001, four in 2010 and six this year. Heath said there are currently four scouts in Troop 33 who are just months away from becoming Eagle Scouts as well.
The highlight of the ceremony came when former Lions Club President Bob Veeley joined Heath in placing a center brick with the words "Boy Scout Trp. 33 Middelfield, CT Eagle Scout Honor Roll" among the names. (see photos and video)
The Middlefield Lions Club, which serves as Troop 33's charter organization, donated brick pavers with the name of an Eagle Scout and the year they earned the honor inscribed on them.
