Local members of the Boy Scouts of America will celebrate their organization's century of service to the youth of America on Feb. 7 with a gathering at the front entrance of the Scotland County courthouse. The event is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m.

Across Southeastern North Carolina, Eagle Scouts of all ages will gather on the front steps of their local courthouses in a regional display of unity to mark the event. Judge Craig B. Ellis of Laurinburg, an executive board member of the Cape Fear Council of the Boy Scouts of America, will preside at the local celebration.

"The Boy Scouts have been very active in Scotland County since the 1930s, and have always meant a lot to the community," Ellis said. "We've produced a good number of Eagle Scouts, the first from this area being the late ex-governor, Terry Sanford."

A photograph of all Eagle Scouts in attendance will follow the half-hour ceremony.

"We will have a brief program in which we recognize the Eagle Scouts and thank them for their service," said Ellis, who attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1955. "We welcome any scouts, adults, friends of scouting, anyone who would like to attend."

Laurinburg Presbyterian Church and the United Methodist Church of Laurinburg have sponsored "extremely active" scouting programs through the years, according to Ellis.

"Years ago, the Presbyterian Church sponsored what was known as Troop 20 at the time, the first in the area," Ellis said. "Today they are Troop 420. The Methodist Church has Troop 447; they are not quite as old, but they have been strong for many years."

David Harling is the Troop Committee Chairman of Troop 420.

"Our troop has produced 143 Eagle Scouts since its beginning in 1930," Harling said. "We would like to invite anyone who has received the Eagle badge, whether originally from Scotland County or not, to join us at the courthouse on this occasion."

Ellis said that while most people think of scouting as "camping and fun", its primary purpose goes deeper.

"A lot of prominent folks from Scotland County have been involved in scouting throughout the years," Ellis said. "It is a lot of fun, but its primary purpose is to build good, moral men."