MOSES LAKE — Only one in 20 Boy Scouts ever makes it to the rank of Eagle.

Some of them who do, probably shouldn’t.

And some of them who don’t, should.

“Our senior patrol leader did not get his Eagle badge but he was an Eagle Scout,” said Doug Barduhn, the president of Inland Fire Protection in Yakima and head of the Boy Scouts’ Grand Columbia Council.

Circumstances prevented him from reaching Scouting’s highest rank, Barduhn said. But through his character and ability, that patrol leader showed he was every bit an Eagle Scout without the badge.

Barduhn spoke Saturday at the Moses Lake Golf and Country Club to five young men who have earned their Eagle badges. They have worked hard and been fortunate, Barduhn said, and they should remember the values and hard work that earned them that badge.

“I want you to be an Eagle Scout,” Barduhn said.

The young men being honored Saturday were Samuel Azevedo of Othello, Logan Bohnet of Almira, Alexander Dye of Hartline, Luke Mounts of Moses Lake and Davis Stocking of Ephrata.

Barduhn reminded them that while being an Eagle Scout will show the world what they are capable of, they will still need to prove themselves in life.

“No one owes you anything,” he said. “It opens a lot of doors, it’s a piece of paper that lets you in the front door... But it shows you are capable of achieving something over time.”

Barduhn challenged the five young men to take seriously and live out the Scouting creed — to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, courteous, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent — in their lives, helping others and being as successful in their careers and lives as they can.

“Do one thing at a time, and be all there when you do it,” he said.

He also encouraged them, as they becomes adults and have families of their own, to become involved as Scout leaders.

“You have the tools. Use them. Become Eagle Scouts,” he said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at [email protected].