MEXICO – Fewer than 2 percent of all the Scouts in the United States ever attain the level of Eagle Scout, yet Troop 544 from Mexico has fostered an unprecedented nine Eagles under the leadership of Scoutmaster Leon Bucher.

Among those so feted were three Scouts presented at an Eagle Court of Honor on Sunday at the Mexico Congregational Church. Those scouts were Kevin Knight, Kurtis Bucher and Derrick Waugh.

Although Kevin Knight became an Eagle Scout in 2003, he postponed his court until his father returned from deployment in Iraq.

In order to achieve the Eagle rank, a Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges, accept and function in a leadership position in the troop, and organize and carry out a service project that provides service to others.

Knight chose a project close to his heart, because he had fond memories of his church camp, Camp Good News in Livermore Falls. Realizing that two buildings were in need of scraping and painting, he organized a work force of 20 people to put the building back in good repair.

Bucher learned from his father, who is a forester, about some cemeteries that were in need of help. By searching through maps of the area, he found his project, a cemetery hidden in the woods in Avon. He cleaned away brush to expose the stones in the unmarked mid-1800s cemetery. Then he proceeded to clean every stone so that the names and dates became legible. Collette monuments in Lewiston donated a memorial stone that Kurtis placed at the entrance.

Waugh learned of the need for a footbridge that would accommodate the handicapped in the Memorial Green in Mexico. He spent 135 hours planning and building the footbridge, which is visible to hundreds as they drive by the green every day. The bridge allows visitors to come into the green from a parking area beside Route 2 without having to cross the busy highway.

Accolades came from as high as the president and vice president of the United States and from U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and U.S. Rep. Thomas Allen. Presenting congratulations, plaques and checks were state Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, and state Reps. Randy Hotham, R-Dixfield, and John Patrick, D-Rumford, as well as representatives from the Rumford Elks Lodge No. 862. Gifts and checks were also presented from the Mexico Board of Selectmen by Richie Philbrick.