LISBON FALLS – Wearing his original sash from 1932, Albert Vye stood straight at attention as a new Boy Scouts of America Eagle insignia was pinned next to a tattered piece of red, white and blue ribbon.

The old ribbon was all that remained of Vye’s treasured Eagle award. The rest of it was stolen several years ago.

Now nearly 90 years old, Vye was 18 when he earned the prized Eagle Scout pin.

“Those were my best years,” Vye said at Monday night’s Troop 109 court of honor, where he once again became the proud owner of a prized Eagle badge. Only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts earn enough merit badges to become Eagle Scouts, according to Boy Scouts of America.

Vye recalled his time as a Scout in Auburn’s Troop 2.

“I cherish that time,” he said. “It’s something that can never be taken away.”

With health and hearing now diminished, Vye reflected on the values he found most important in life, those he learned from his Eagle requirements. They included lessons in communicating and getting along with people, he said.

Troop 109’s young members now have the same opportunities – to try new experiences with lifelong impact – that Vye had many years ago, said Abnaki District Executive Matt Mower, who was at the meeting to discuss camping and leadership training.

“This is a perfect example of how traditions unite generations,” Mower said.

New badge

Troop 109 leaders, who learned of Vye’s loss in late November, found a replacement badge online and bought it for Monday’s ceremony at the Lisbon Falls United Methodist Church vestry. Troop 109 Scoutmaster Peter Reynolds and Assistant Scoutmaster Allen Ward, both of whom are Eagle Scouts, made the presentation.

The story of the original badge came to Ward’s attention in a conversation with Vye at a Thanksgiving pancake breakfast. Vye, now a Lisbon resident, spoke emotionally of his loss and the badge’s importance to him.

Wade and others decided to help.

Dolcie Maley, a troop committee member, searched the Internet for replacement badges. Many old Boy Scout items are valuable as collectibles, and some special items have values of several thousand dollars.

To find a badge from around 1932 with a price of $56 was lucky, she said. That vintage badge is now in the mail, so leaders gave Vye a set of current Eagle insignia.

As Troop 109 Scouts and parents stood and applauded Monday night, Vye accepted the new badge with an emotion-filled Scout salute.