EDITORIAL

Suffolk has its fair share of Eagle Scouts — and probably more per capita than a lot of cities — but one family here has taken the distinction to a new level.

The Goodwin family in North Suffolk now has three generations of living Eagle Scouts — six altogether, with the recent Eagle Scout award ceremony of brothers Joshua and Jordan Goodwin at the Nansemond Swim Club.

The two young men were joined at their award ceremony by their older brothers, Jeremy and Jeff, as well as their father, Jordan, and grandfather, Cliff. All six have — at some point in their lives — earned Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Cliff Goodwin, 88, earned his Eagle rank more than 70 years ago.

According to the Boy Scouts of America, only about 6 percent of scouts earned the Eagle rank in 2013, making it an unusual honor to begin with. To have a family with six Eagles over three generations is even more rare.

Notable Eagle Scouts have included presidents, governors, astronauts, founders and chief executive officers of multinational companies worth billions of dollars, professional sports stars, senators, judges and many others who have contributed much to the nation’s success.

Even before going on to such successful endeavors in their careers, though, all Eagle Scouts must have completed some community service project that improves the lives of people near where they live.

The Goodwin brothers erected play areas at area churches and at the Nansemond Swim Club. Their work will long be appreciated by kids at those facilities. Perhaps more important, though, is the experience the brothers gained in the process and the lessons they learned about the importance of community service.

Congratulations to the Goodwin family for its great achievement.