Tonight was my brother's Eagle Scout Board of Review. This is where three or four Scouting officials look over the records, merit badges earned, letters of recommendation, etc., of the Life Scout applying for the rank of Eagle. They ask the applicant some top-secret questions (no one who knows what they are is supposed to tell about them, because they don't want parents and Scoutmasters coaching the boys on what to say), mostly about his character. No one is allowed to be in the room with the officials and the boy except the boy's Scoutmaster. After about fifteen minutes of questions, the boy and Scoutmaster leave the room, and the officials discuss the boy's answers and decide whether or not to award his Eagle based on criteria from the National Scout Office. Lately, "National," as it's referred to, has really been getting strict about the credentials and criteria necessary to receive the rank of Eagle. If he doesn't make it, he can try again up until three times or his 18th birthday. The boy is called back in after the decision has been made, and is informed of it.

My brother was extremely nervous about his Board of Review. He had good reason; it's the greatest honor in the Scouting program, and it's certainly one of the biggest opportunities he's ever had a chance at. The review was held at a small church. He went into a back room for the interview, and had a smile on his face when he came out after the questioning. He still didn't know if he'd gotten it, but it wasn't nearly as hard as he'd thought it would be. Then they called him back in to tell him what decision they had reached. Their first words were, "Congratulations, Eagle."

My fifteen-year-old brother is an Eagle Scout. I am a little jealous, because I would love to have had the opportunity to earn my Eagle (and I am certain I would have), but more than I am jealous I am proud. As befitting the role of older sibling, I have often thought of him as lazy, immature, messy, and inept; but he has finally proven himself to be responsible, capable, and intelligent. Congratulations, Eagle.