ELIOT — Local Boy Scout Edward Hanson of Eliot, Maine, has been named an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting. The ceremony was held Nov. 22, 2008, at the Kittery Trading Post.

The ceremony briefly covered the ranks that a Boy Scout has to climb in order to reach the highest level.

Speakers at the ceremony were state Reps. Sarah Lewin of Eliot and Bonnie Gould of South Berwick, who presented Hanson with a sentiment from the Maine Legislature. Malcolm Kenney, Keneth Goodwin and David Fogarty of VFW Post 5744 also presented him with a sentiment. Jack Kareckas represented the South Berwick Rod & Gun Club and presented him with a KTP gift card. Mr. Walker, Scoutmaster, shared a story.

After the speakers, Hanson gave out mentor pins to Kevin Jewitt, Cathleen Gallo, Penny Gagon, Wendy Caron and Jason King for helping him with school and Boy Scouts throughout the year.

Boy Scouts of Troop 338 helped with the ceremony. About 160 friends and family congratulated Hanson. A contingent of the U.S. Coast Guard brought the cake.

For his Eagle project, Hanson led a small group of Boy Scouts in cleaning and recording the information from the headstones at the Furbish Cemetery on Dover Road in Eliot. In addition, he led a group of Eliot Historical Society members in the cleanup, recording [headstones] and the replacement of [iron railings at the] Old Hammond Cemetery in downtown Eliot. The second cemetery is the resting grounds of John Hammond Esq., who was the last representative for the town of Kittery, county of York, province of Maine in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was the first representative for the town of Eliot, county of York, in the state of Maine.