Distinguished Eagle Scout Award

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Eagle Scout Square Knot With DESA Device
Image:DESAknot.gif

The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, is a special award, awarded only to Eagle Scouts, for distinguished service in his profession and to the community for a period of at least 25 years after earning his Eagle Scout rank. Requirements include: having attained the Eagle Scout rank, accomplishment of significance in one's career, and a solid record of continued community volunteer involvement. Up to the end of 2005, 1,835,410 Scouts had earned the rank of Eagle. Since its introduction in 1969, the DESA has been awarded to just under 2000 Eagle Scouts.<ref name=DESA>http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-516.html</ref> Only about 1 in 1,000 of all Eagle Scouts have been presented this prestigious award. This award is similar to the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.

First introduced in 1969 and awarded by the National Eagle Scout Association, the award consists of a gold eagle medallion, identical to the silver medallion on the Eagle Scout medal, but is suspended from a red, white, and blue neck ribbon as opposed to the scroll pin and ribbon suspension on the regular medal. The Distinguished Eagle Scout medal is worn in place of the regular Eagle Scout medal for Eagle Scout-related ceremonies. The recipient is also presented with a 3-dimensionally engraved bronze plaque. A small gold eagle device or pin may be worn on the recipient's Eagle Scout square knot emblem that is worn in place of the medal for everyday wear. The award entitles the recipient to be called a "Distinguished Eagle Scout" by the along with automatic admission into the National Eagle Scout Association committee.