The younger Eagles are Eagles – Scouts, that is.

Twins James and Matthew Eagles, 17, have followed their father, Paul, and his brother, Harry, in achieving the Boy Scouts of America’s top Scouting rank.

The juniors at Vicksburg High School, of course, have heard comments about their name and their rank.

&#8220We get that a lot,” James Eagles said. &#8220Our teachers say, ‘Oh, the Eagles got Eagles.’”.

Their father is also the Scoutmaster of their troop, Troop 102, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church.

Paul Eagles received his Eagle Scout medal in Vicksburg in 1972. He is now a civil engineer working as a project manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Vicksburg District. His brother, Harry, lives in Pineville, La., and works in construction.

Paul Eagles compared today’s scouting with that of 34 years ago, when he gained his Eagle medal.

&#8220We had to cook over an open fire,” he said. &#8220We didn’t have the little stoves. Nowadays we use little gas-burning stoves – small, portable stoves – and that saves having to cut firewood and build fires and all that kind of thing.”

The widespread use of technologies such as computers and cell phones have also made a difference in how Scouts earn merit badges and coordinate activities.

To earn the rank of Eagle a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills. Among requirements are merit badges in such fields as first aid; citizenship in the community, nation and world; and communications. Eagle Scouts must have earned 21 badges, including 12 that are required.

To meet the service requirements both new Eagles organized and completed construction projects at Bowmar Baptist Church. James built steps between a pavilion and a softball field and Matthew built four benches, Paul Eagles said.

Paul Eagles said the number of merit badges required to become an Eagle hasn’t changed since he earned his medal but the list of badges offered has changed. Badges such as beekeeping are no longer being offered and new badges in fields such as computers have been added.

&#8220A lot of requirements are very similar,” Paul Eagles said. &#8220I think the kids have it a little easier, (in) that they can get on the Internet and research information that we didn’t have. We’d get old encyclopedias.”

Many requirements of merit badges are earned easiest at Boy Scout camps. The Eagles said they and their troopmates made trips to Camp Warren A. Hood near Hazlehurst to work on theirs.

James and Matthew said they recognize that becoming Eagle Scouts confers on them a responsibility.

&#8220When people look at us, they’re going to see how Eagle Scouts behave,” Matthew Eagles said. Both new Eagles said they plan to remain involved with the troop at least throughout high school, including serving in leadership roles for the younger Scouts.

&#8220We have several new guys that just joined the troop that are 10 or 11 years old,” Paul Eagles explained of those beginning, at the rank of Tenderfoot, five levels below Eagle.

James and Matthew’s mother and Paul’s wife is Kathie Eagles. The Scouts said she helps lead the troop as much as Paul Eagles.

All four members of the Eagles family are planning a 60- to 70-mile backpacking trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico this summer, Paul Eagles said.

Only about 4 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle rank, BSA information says.

&#8220This represents more than 1 million Boy Scouts who have earned the rank since 1911,” the information says.

The Eagles were awarded their Eagle Scout Medals April 29 at an outdoor Court of Honor at the pavilion behind Bowmar Baptist Church, Paul Eagles said. Also receiving Eagle Medals at the same event were VHS junior Ryan Richardson, also of Troop 102, and Porter’s Chapel Academy junior Ian Derrick of Troop 76, also of Vicksburg.

Ryan is the son of Ronnie and Jackie Richardson. Ian is the son of Donna David and David Derrick.