Tucker Leonard of Troop 479 earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, during a ceremony held June 16 at China Baptist Church.

Leonard, his family, his Scout leaders, and other members of the community were recognized during the presentation.

Front, from left, are Nick Shelton, Leader Tucker Leonard, Cole Corson, Michael Boostedt and Dylin Breton. Second row, from left, are Aiden Pettengill, Grayson Podey, Reny Pettengill and Leader Ron Emery. Third row, from left, are Leader Joe Shelton, Leader Priscilla Adams, Hunter Praul, Nivek Boostedt and Andrew Weymouth. Back row, from left, are Scoutmaster Scott Adams, Leader Darryl Praul, Madison Bodine, Curtis Weymouth, Misha Littlefield, Leader Christian Hunter, Leader Doug Leonard and Leader Aaron Podey. Contributed photo

Leader Tucker Leonard, of Palermo, earned the rank of Eagle Scout during a ceremony June 16 at China Baptist Church. Contributed photo

Eagle Scout Christian Hunter served as moderator and opened the ceremony. The call to order to open the Eagle Court of Honor was by Eagle Scout Greg Solomon representing Chuck Mahaleris, Kennebec District Chairperson.

Leonard chose the Eagle Scout Ceremony that explained the traits of Eagle Scouts. He asked 13 Scouts to help him with the ceremony.

His project at the Palermo Grammar School was to select a space on the trails behind the school to clear an area for an outdoor class. He selected the area after meeting with a teacher from the school and marked the trees that needed to be cut. Once the trees were cut, the firewood was carried out to donate, while the brush was dragged into the woods. The location of the tables were selected and raked. The many pieces of the tables were carried into the selected location across the rough trail. The five tables were then built and placed on pads. Scouts, leaders and parents worked in a light rain under his leadership.

Scoutmaster Scott Adams presented the Eagle Scout Awards. Adams talked about a shy kid when he joined and now he is a leader. He worked at summer camp for two summers and was selected for the Order of Arrow. He was able to travel while in the Scouts to the National Summit in West Virginia and the Seabase in Florida.

Sentiments were presented to Leonard from Rep. Tim Theriault, Palermo Selectperson Cheryl York and Greg Solomon representing Mahaleris. Letters of sentiment were received from Past President George Bush and members of U.S. Congress, to name a few.

Leonard also was presented a gift, a framed painting of an Eagle, by a friend Eagle Scout Derik Boutin who was presented this painting by his mother when he earned his Eagle rank.

Leonard is the son of Doug and Jenn Leonard, of Palermo, and recently graduated from Erskine Academy in South China.