Becoming an Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America is one of the most significant accomplishments any young man can obtain, and Andrew Lee Howard of Deep Run has earned this award.
A member of Troop 746, Howard’s honor was bestowed in an Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony April 27 at his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Albertson, which sponsors the troop.
Since the first Eagle award in 1912, more than 2 million have achieved the Boy Scouts’ highest ranking — about 4 percent are named Eagle Scouts. In the scouting program, a young man learns to build character, responsibility, citizenship and personal fitness.
Howard has earned 37 merit badges advancing from Tenderfoot to Eagle Scout. The required number of merit badges for Eagle is 21. He also completed his community service project.
He noticed and felt that the disabled and the elderly struggled to enter his church building. Some had to cross the parking lot to be able to enter for services or other activities. He felt that designated handicapped parking spaces would provide this much needed service to them and the community as well.
His project was to organize and create a new handicapped space and remark existing ones, benefitting many.
Howard is a 2013 graduate of East Duplin High School. He is the son of Dennis and Debbie Howard of Deep Run. He is the grandson of Nellie Potter of Albertson and the late J.C. Potter, and Alford and Vernie Howard of Kenansville.