It is almost Labor Day, many are celebrating this weekend as a last hoorah of summer. I believe it is also a time to celebrate hard work, dedication and commitment.

Last Sunday I had the privilege of seeing two of my heroes honored, my husband and my granddaughter, Phalha.

My husband, David didn’t want his recognition to take away from Phalha’s triumph. We are so proud of her for reaching the highest rank in Scouting and becoming an Eagle Scout. This was not an easy feat and being the first woman in our family to hold that honor makes it even more special. Not to take away the hard work the boys did to become Eagle Scouts, we are just as proud of Jack and Ryan, but for a girl to be able to join Scouting that was once only accessible to boys makes it even more special.

David earned his Wood Badge which is a very prestigious award for training and accomplishing goals. But as he said, he did that for himself, he did not need to be publicly acknowledged. Our oldest son, Dustin and his wife, Chanthou were also a part of his journey to receive his Wood Badge. Chanthou took the training at the same time as he, and Dustin served as a guide. Our grandchildren, Ryan and Phalha were workers for the two weekends of adult training. During the training they were thrilled to learn that there were three generations of scouting at the Wood Badge event. The day David and Phalha received their recognition, there were four generations of scouting, as my father-in-law was present. My father-in-law served as Scout leader when David was a boy, as did my mother-in-law. We continued the legacy with me serving as Den Leader, Assistant Cub Master, Cub Master and even a member of the District Committee. David served as Scout leader for our children and went back as an assistant leader for our oldest grandson. He’d already been participating every year with Ryan when he was in Cub Scouts.

Scouting is a family affair for us, starting with my in-laws, moving on to our generation, our sons, and now our grandchildren. With three grandchildren who have earned their Eagle, and one son, we are so proud of what scouting has meant to them, and to us as a family.

Jack, the first of our grands to Eagle, says he learned not to say he couldn’t do something. He learned to try. Since he has aged out of scouting, he has come on board as a junior leader.

Ryan went to Philmont, to Korea for the World Jamboree and is off at college. He will soon age out of regular scouts but is looking into Ventures and Sea Scouts. He will also continue to help his parents who serve as leaders for two troops of scouts, one boys’ troop and one girls’.

Phalha, our first granddaughter and the first female in our family to earn her Eagle. To say I am proud is an understatement. Phalha almost quit. Like most girls, she went through that rough patch where she wasn’t sure who she was and what she wanted to do. But this amazing young woman overcame her self-doubt to accomplish not only her Eagle, but she is a dancer in the OA, the Order of the Arrow, where she makes her own regalia as well as help friends make theirs. She attended an OA conference in Colorado, and the World Jamboree in Korea. She is now making plans to return to Korea as an exchange student. She participated in and designed the patch and tee shirts for the Border-to-Border Challenge which is a triathlon event of hiking, canoeing and biking from one border of North Carolina to the other. Her badges were so many that she earned palms on her Eagle to denote the number of badges above what was needed.

Phalha is also the inspiration for my character, Winnie in the Applegate Mystery Series. I am blessed to have such an amazing family who inspire my work and also inspire me. I am proud of this beautiful person and the role model she makes for her younger cousins and other young ladies who dream of being a Scout.