It is a recognition by the National Court of Honor, presented through the local council and a local court of honor. It represents many years of dedicated effort , and the successful completion of a long process which started when the young man became a Boy Scout. It is a demonstration of how people, working together, can truly help mold a young man with a solid sense of leadership, citizenship, and responsibility. Not every boy, nor every Scout, qualifies for the high rank of Eagle. The physical requirements are strenuous, as set forth in the required merit badges.
Mental requirements are unusual and require much more than average intelligence.
Perhaps an even more difficult and more important requirement for the Eagle rank is the personal character of the Scout as reflected in his right attitudes toward God and the ideals of Scouting, as reflected in his coop- eration and service to others in church, the home, school and community. The applicant must have a high degree of the spirit of cheerful service to others which is a basis of good citizenship. The attainment of the Eagle Scout Rank is indeed the highest honor that a Scout may achieve. When a boy enters Scouting, in the three parts of the Scout Oath, he promises upon his honor to do his best to do his duty first to God and his country second, to other people, by helping them at all times and third, to himself, by keeping himself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Likewise, the Scout Law he promises to obey is put into effect as the occasion may demand.