Christopher and Michael Becker
Eagle Scouts 

Brothers Michael Allen Becker and Christopher Allen Becker were awarded the Boy Scout of America’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, during a Court of Honor on March 4, 2007.  The twin brothers are the sons of Allen and Anita Becker of New Hill, North Carolina.  At 15 years old, the brothers officially earned the rank of Eagle Scout on December 13, 2006.  They are now the 52nd and 53rd Eagle Scouts of BSA Troop 216, which meets at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary and is under the leadership of Scoutmaster Bob DeContreras.

The Court of Honor was held at Saint Mary Magdalene Church and School in Apex, North Carolina.  Maternal grandparents Ernie and Mary Ciarniello of Poland, Ohio and paternal grandparents George and Liz Becker of Venice, Florida were present at the ceremony.  Also attending the ceremony was Rod Ruiz, Headmaster of Saint Thomas More Academy in Raleigh where the boys attend high school.  Tom Brawn, Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 216, was Master of Ceremony.  In all, more than one hundred people including many Boy Scouts, relatives and family friends were witness to the boy’s outstanding achievement.

Several Troop 216 scouts participated in the ceremony.  Life Scout Christopher Hibbard delivered the invocation and the closing prayer.  Fellow Eagle Scout Gary Meyer described the rank advancement requirements for the trail to Eagle. The Honor Guard was comprised of Life Scout Brian DeContreras, Life Scout Alex Brawn, Eagle Scout Kevin Mulder and Star Scout David Harmon.  Allen Becker, the twin’s father, presented them with flags which Senator Richard Burr had flown for them over the United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC in recognition of their Eagle Scout award.  Mr. Charles Fossett, the Past Exalted Ruler of the Cary Apex Elks Lodge Number 2798, presented the boys with a certificate and flag.  Also, Mr. Todd Ellis, Charter Organization Representative for Troop 216 and Knights of Columbus member at St. Michael’s Church, presented each of the boys with an engraved pen.  Letters of commendation were received from many dignitaries including President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Senator Dole, Senator Burr and E. Neville Isdell, CEO of Coca Cola.

Both Michael and Christopher began their scouting careers in 1999 as Bobcats with Pack 316 at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex and successfully earned all of the Cub Scout ranks.  The Arrow of Light award was received in February 2003 and the boys bridged to BSA Troop 216 in March 2003.

Both boys have been very involved in Boy Scout Troop 216. Michael has held the leadership positions of Quartermaster, Troop Guide, Scribe, Patrol Leader, and Assistant Patrol Leader, while Christopher has held the leadership positions of Quartermaster and Scribe.   In April 2005, they were both inducted into the Order of the Arrow.  Michael and Christopher earned the Catholic Religious Award, Ad Altare Dei in February 2006 and in July 2006 they attended Philmont, the high adventure Boy Scout camp in Cimarron, New Mexico where they spent 10 days backpacking over 65 miles.  Michael, a certified BSA Lifeguard, has completed 28 merit badges and Christopher has completed 24.  In order to reach the rank of Eagle Scout, 21 merit badges must be earned, 12 of which are Eagle required.

As required by the Boy Scouts of America, a candidate for Eagle Scout must plan, develop, and give leadership to others while providing a service to the community.  For his project, Christopher designed and then led eight scouts in the construction of six moveable flower boxes of varying sizes for use at the Glenaire Retirement Center in Cary, NC.  Christopher Meyer, a Committee Member in Troop 216, was Eagle Advisor. The flower boxes will brighten up windows on new wing being built at the center and are built at a height which will allow wheelchair residents an opportunity to plant flowers themselves.

For his Eagle Scout project, Michael led a group of more than twenty scouts and friends in a landscaping project at Saint Mary Magdalene School in Apex, NC.  Tim Kearby, Quartermaster for Troop 216, was his Eagle advisor.  The end result of this project was a smooth path allowing parents pushing strollers from the street up the hill to the school to circumvent two sets of stairs and it provided improved drainage.

Both Michael and Christopher, ninth graders and honor students at St. Thomas More Academy in Raleigh, are involved in tennis and band.  In August, they will be attending Sea Base, a high adventure Boy Scout camp in Key West, Florida.