Third member of China family earns Eagle Scout rank

PHOTO: The Pettengill family, from left, Lee, Aiden, Bryson, Rémy and Danielle. All three boys have attained the rank of Eagle Scout. (Submitted photo)

CHINA – Bryson Lee Pettengill of Troop 479 received his Eagle Scout rank during a ceremony held on Oct. 20 at the China Masonic Lodge.
He isn’t the first in his family to attain the rank of Eagle. Both of his brothers have also earned Scouting’s highest honor. Aiden earned

his Eagle on Oct. 25, 2017, and Rémy, who is a senior patrol leader for Troop 479, earned his Eagle on Aug. 28, 2019.
Since the inception of the Eagle Scout award in 1912, 2% of eligible Scouts have earned Scouting’s highest honor, but 100% of Pettengill family Scouts have achieved that goal.
Bryson, 13, is a student at China Middle School. He also earned a Bronze Palm for his Eagle Scout ribbon in recognition of earning nine badges above those required for Eagle. He has the opportunity to earn many more before he turns 18.
Scouting “means a safe place for boys to turn into young men,” said Lee Pettingill, the boy’s father. “A place of friendship and tolerance. A place that teaches it’s OK to stumble and educates how to get back up gracefully and move forward with dignity. I don’t know about other troops, but ours is an extended family of people going out of their way to help others both in the troop and the community.” Pettengill is an assistant scoutmaster with the troop, and his wife Danielle, is the troop advancement chair.
More than 50 people attended Bryson’s ceremony, including State Sen. Matt Pouliot, R-Augusta, and State Rep. Tim Theriault, R-China, who presented Bryson with a Legislative Sentiment acknowledging his accomplishment, and a U.S. flag that flew over the State capitol building.