135 Merit Badges August 14, 2014

A Boy Scout and a patch are the most perfect paring. They are intertwined and bound by honor and tradition. We were reminded of this special bond between a boy scout and their patches when we stumbled upon an article about two brothers. We wanted to share their story and take a look into the history of the merit badge and explore the different types of merit badges worn by today’s boy scouts.

Introducing Sean and Eric Grapin

Sean and Eric Grapin are brothers from Virginia. Not only do they share a brotherly bond but they also share a love and passion for all things boy scout. The brothers belong to Troop 345 in Vienna, Virginia. After noticing a poster of all the merit badges , the brothers became intrigued and decided that they wanted to earn all 135 merit badges. There was only one problem, Sean the younger brother was just nine years old. He would have to wait until his 10th birthday to join the Boy Scouts. Eric already earned 40 badges, so Sean would somehow have to catch up to his older brother.

Sean’s birthday finally arrived and he wasted no time! He worked vigorously and tirelessly to make up for lost time. During his first year as a Boy Scout, he earned 104 merit badges. Both brothers achieved their goal. They both earned 135 merit badges.

These brothers are truly amazing. They represent everything that a Boy Scout is, determined, diligent and thrifty.

History of Merit Badges

Merit Badges have expanded over time. They were first introduced on August 1, 1907, in the United Kingdom. The purpose of the merit badge was to introduce potential occupations and interests to the scouts. Having the scouts participate in activities, allows them to be exposed to something that they may have not had the opportunity to explore before. The exercises allow scouts to become well rounded individuals and contributing members of society.

Different Types of Merit Badges

There are a variety of merit badges that a Boy Scout can receive.

Below is a list of merit badges one can obtain:

List Courtesy of Wiki

The Boy Scouts of America are a one of a kind organization. They have created generations of responsible boys who have turned into well established men. We salute you and your efforts. Scouts honor!