(L-R) DeeDee Womble, Benjamin Womble, Mickey Womble, Sarah Beth Womble, Inez Womble, Five Boy Scouts from Troop 113 received their Eagle Scout badges during a ceremony recently at Rome's First United Methodist Church.

Those honored were Jonathan Alexander Purdie, Zachary Bernard Martin III, Benjamin Michael Womble, William Walter Thoms III and Jackson Bradford Kelly. Benjamin is a ninth-grader at Darlington and the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Michael Womble and the grandson of Johnny and Inez Womble of Colquitt. For his Eagle Project, Benjamin built picnic tables and a fence for the Boys and Girls Club of Rome.

The Eagle Scout Award is the highest and most coveted rank of Scouting, the last major step in the advancement program. Fewer than 2 percent of all Scouts in the United States reach the Eagle rank.

To receive the rank, a Scout must earn 21 merit badges, serve actively in a troop leadership position for a period of six months after becoming a Life Scout; plan, develop and carry out a service project and appear before a board of review. In Benjamin's quest for this most prestigious award, he earned 43 merit badges.