More than 600 people joined three Georgia Boy Scouts who were selected to receive the rarely bestowed national Boy Scout Honor Medal with Crossed Palms award during a July 28 medal ceremony that acknowledged the Scouts' heroic acts to save another teenager swallowed up in an undertow caused by flooding resulting from Hurricane Cindy in 2005.

One of those being honored, Danen Clarke, lost his life in the process. All three boys are Eagle Scouts from Troop 2008 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Several local, regional and state political representatives were on hand including Congressman Lynn A. Westmoreland of the Third District of Georgia, who helped present the medals to the Boy Scouts that included: Andy Boot, representing his younger brother Brett Boot of Sharpsburg who is serving a two-year mission in Salta, Argentina for the LDS Church; Brandon Clarke, representing his older brother Danen of Peachtree City, who honored his brother's memory by becoming the fourth Clarke son to earn his Eagle rank; and Peachtree City resident Brock Gardner.

Congressman Westmoreland had the boys and their story read into the Congressional record in Washington, D.C. so that it becomes permanently part of our country's official history.

Letters from Governor Sunny Perdue and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter were also read during the ceremony. The award came just days prior to the Aug. 1 worldwide celebration of Boy Scouts turning 100 years. The boys' story is one of thousands of good deeds done on a daily basis as Scouts fulfill their oath of always "be prepared" as they serve others.

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