Andrews – Compatriot Ronald Hill, a highly decorated and distinguished U.S. Army veteran who served in three wars, has returned to his hometown to honor four local young men.
The McCray family knows all about Scouting. Anthony and Tina McCray have five children, all of whom have been involved with the Scouts. Their four sons – William Charles, Gilbert Lee, Larry Nathaniel and Elijah Isaiah Lucas Malaciah McCray – grew up in Scouting, and each has achieved the highest award given by the Boy Scouts of America: the prestigious Eagle Scout.
To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges as well as fulfilling roles in leadership. The Scout must also be able to display outdoor skills and demonstrate the Scout Oath and Law by example. The Scout must also complete a comprehensive service project in the community.
Only 6 percent of those in Scouting reach the level required to be an Eagle Scout.
On Saturday at Andrews United Methodist Church, the four young McCray men, The accompanied by family and friends, were presented with the Sons of the American Revolution certificate of recognition, the Blue Ridge Mountains Chapter coin and the SAR Boy Scouts tab, as well as the Military Order of the World Wars certificate of recognition, letter from MOWW Region V Commander Michael W. Culbertson and MOWW coin and tab by Compatriot Ron Hill, who was dressed in SAR Colonial attire.
Each of the Eagle Scouts has demonstrated trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness and friendliness as well as being courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. This is the reason Hill believes the McCray brothers were deserving of the awards and special recognition.
“This is a great honor for me to come here today and present this to these young men for all the work they’ve done, and especially their parents and their support for their sons,” Hill said.
Hill presented each of the McCray brothers with his personal challenge coin: An incentive to be “More, better, greater.” Steve Zuercher accompanied Hill at the ceremony, reading each certificate in the background as they were presented.
Lue Garrett is the grandmother of the McCray kids.
“It’s really amazing, and I’m very proud of them,” she said following the ceremony. “I’ve been there with them all the way. Their parents have done a great job. I’d like to think I also had a part in it, as I brought up their mother.”
The McCray family is not done with Scouting, with their youngest member, Hannah, working her way through the ranks with hard work and dedication. With loving and supportive parents and grandparents – and under the watchful eyes of her four older Eagle Scout brothers – the path has been opened for her to soar.