Bluffton Boy Scout Troop 256 held their Court of Honor on Feb. 5 at the First Mennonite Church. The event is held to recognize Scout rank advancements, and both merit badges and other badges earned since the last Court of Honor, which was held Labor Day 2010.

During the past six months, 15 Scouts earned rank advancements. The advancements ranged from brand new Scouts earning their Scout rank, to several older Scouts achieving their Eagle rank. Eagle is the highest rank possible within the Boy Scouts of America.

During 2010 to help memorialize 100 Years of Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America brought back four retired merit badges that could only be earned in 2010. These badges were considered part of the basic knowledge that all Scouts 100 years ago should be able to perform.

They were Carpentry (no power tools), Pathfinding (using map, compass, and knowing all surround town), Signaling (morse code and semaphore), and Tracking (identification and tracking of a large variety of wildlife).

A total of 26 heritage badges were earned, by the troop; Carpentry (6), Pathfinding (14), Signaling (2), and Tracking (4). There were two Scouts that earned all four heritage badges; Christian and Misha Groman.

The Scouts earned another 14 merit badges in a variety of subjects. The badges covered everything from Citizenship in the Community (4), Family Life (1), Gardening (6), Personal Management (1), Safety (1), and Salesmanship (1).

A special 100th Anniversary: Year of Celebration badge was worked on by the entire troop, including the adult leaders. The badge had five categories: Leadership, Character, Service, Achievement, and Outdoors. And in order to earn the ribbon for each category, three out of five requirements had to be completed.

The troop had 1.25 years to complete all the requirements, with an end date of Dec. 31, 2010. All Scouts and adult leaders participated, of which 10 Scouts, and six adult leaders were able to earn all five ribbons.

Another eight Scouts participated, but did not earn all five ribbons. No other troop in the district earned this award. Troop 256 also earned the Centennial Quality Unit Award. All Scouts and adult leaders contributed to earning this award for the Troop.

During the Court of Honor, Dan Groman passed the Scout Master job to Mike Metzger. Groman has been Scout Master for the past 10 years. During his tenure, Bluffton Troop 256 has seen 20 Scouts earn their Eagle rank, one former Scout earn an honorary Eagle rank, and there is one remaining Scout awaiting his formal Board of Review for Eagle Scout.

Groman has two sons that each became Eagle Scouts, during his Scout Master time. He also has many fond memories of camping through ice storms, and tornadoes, as well as an interesting group of stories about stunts the Scouts have pulled over the years.

Groman will continue to help Troop 256 as an advisor to Scouts heading along the Eagle Scout path, and as a merit badge counselor.

Mike Metzger has been an assistant scoutmaster for the past two years, and has two sons in Boy Scouts and one son in the Cub Scouts.