Eagle Scout Pin Passes to Grandson; Grandfather’s Award Made in 1965

VILLAS – The Eagle Scout pin Zachary Hearon of Villas received last Sept. 30 had 52 years of flying under its wings. That’s because the pin and its “Be Prepared” slogan were first pinned on Russell Hayes, his grandfather, a Court House resident, when he became an Eagle Scout in Explorer Troop 44 Millville in 1965. 
Such a relay of the esteemed award, which remains with a scout for life, is unique or, at best, extremely rare.
Hearon, 18, is a student at Atlantic Cape Community College and plans to pursue a career in engineering. Hayes is a retired mechanical engineer.
His Boy Scout career was with Troop 65 (officially Troop 1065).
Hearon’s Eagle project was the creation of a walkway and handicap ramp at the Cape May County Historical Museum, Swainton.
Grandfather and grandson were featured in the January 30 edition of “Bryan on Scouting” a blog for adult Boy Scout leaders in a story written by Michael Freeman, the Scouting magazine’s associate editor, and an Eagle Scout.
According to that article, Hayes remained active in scouting for many years. His daughters became Cub Scout leaders.
It noted that when Hearon was a Tiger Scout, he saw his grandfather’s scouting memorability at his pack’s Blue and Gold banquet, an annual event many Cub Scout packs hold in February, the month when Boy Scouts began.
He was extremely interested in the Eagle Scout pin. According to the article, he asked his grandfather if he, too, could be an Eagle Scout. Hayes replied, “I don’t see why not.” It seems to have resonated with the young scout.
Ten years after that, the pair attended Hearon’s Court of Honor. During that ceremony, Hayes pinned on Hearon his Eagle Scout pin the one he found awe-inspiring as a boy.
According to the magazine article, Hearon said at his ceremony, “I remember being a little Tiger Cub running around telling my mom I want to be an Eagle Scout just like my grandpop. That little Tiger Cub was right; he made it.”