John Clemmer
Eagle Scout 

John Douglas Clemmer was awarded the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, during a  
Court of Honor on January 11, 2009 at the MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, NC.   John is a 
member of Troop 216 in Cary and is the son of John Christopher Clemmer and Karen Cashell Clemmer, 
also of Cary.   He officially earned the rank of Eagle Scout on September 10, 2008 at the age of 16.    

John is Troop 216’s 64th Eagle Scout since it was founded in 1978.  The troop is led by Scoutmaster
Bob De Contreras and is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.

Over 50 people attended the Court of Honor, including fellow scouts, friends, and John’s maternal
grandparents Doug and Hilda Cashell of Raleigh, North Carolina.   Also attending were six scouts
who all started Cub Scouts together with John.  Of those six, three are now Eagle Scouts and two
are working toward their Eagle rank.   Eagle Scout Brian De Contreras was the Master of Ceremonies. 

The ceremony opened with a presentation of the colors by Eagle Scout Alex Brawn and Life Scout Daniel Miller.  Completing the color guard was Michael Clemmer, John’s brother and Pack 316 Webelos Scout.   Brendan Burns of the Cary High School ROTC delivered the invocation.   Eagle Scout Mark Lukegave the Roll Call of Eagles and the Scout Law and Eagle Scout Kevin Mulder described the Trail to Eagle. 

John’s Eagle advisor, Scoutmaster Bob De Contreras, presented the Eagle badge and neckerchief.  
Mr. Charles Fossett, the Past Exalted Ruler of the Cary Apex Elks Lodge Number 2798, presented a 
certificate and flag and Mr. Todd Ellis, Troop 216’s Charter Organization Representative and Knights 
of Columbus member, presented John with an engraved pen.  In recognition of his achievement, John also
received letters of commendation from the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America and from Chief
Executive Officer of Occoneechee Council John Akerman. 

John began his scouting career in 1999 as a Tiger Cub with Pack 316 at St. Andrew Church in Apex, where he subsequently earned all of the Cub Scout ranks, 15 belt loops and 14 pins.    In January 2002, John earned the Conservation Award and the Light of Christ Catholic Religious award.  On January 13, 2003, John received Cub Scouting’s highest award, the Arrow of Light, and bridged to BSA Troop 216
in February 2003.

During his tenure with Troop 216, John earned the mile swim award and has spent the past four summers camping with the troop at Camp Raven Knob in Mount Airy, NC.   In order to reach the rank of Eagle Scout, 21 merit badges must be earned, 12 of which are Eagle required.  John has earned 27 merit badges.   John considers the highlights of his scouting career to be camping with friends, white water rafting and the troop’s annual ski trips. 

The BSA program heavily emphasizes leadership skills, and throughout his career with Troop 216, John has held numerous leadership positions, including Chaplain’s Aide, Assistant Patrol Leader, Historian, 
and Librarian.   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, John led nineteen scouts and several adults in the installation of a rope fence at Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic School.  The fencing protects a fragile landscape area.

An eleventh grade student at Apex High School in Apex, NC, John is a member of the Apex Varsity Lacrosse Team, Team Captain of the Apex High School Swim Team, Crew Leader for Saint Mary Magdalene The Way Youth Group and a life guard for Pool Professionals.  In the future John hopes to study veterinary medicine and guide his younger brother, Michael, on the trail to Eagle Scout.