Alexandria Boy Scouts Demonstrate Leadership through Service to Blind Triplets

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America is proud to announce three blind triplets have advanced to the rank of Second Class thanks to hard work and the support of their troop and leaders. The rank advancement demonstrates the power of consistent, faithful service coupled with dedication, hard work, and fun of Scouting.

As Second Class Scouts, boys build upon their outdoor skills including camping, outdoor cooking, orienteering and swimming. With the help of supportive leaders and fellow Scouts, 14-year-old Nick, Steven, and Leo Cantos, who have been blind since birth, have done all these things.

The family's journey, of which Ollie Cantos is in the process of formally adopting the triplets, has been chronicled by a variety of media, including NPR. Ollie, 44, is a lawyer in Washington, D.C. 

"Whenever I hear my boys call me 'Dad,' it's the highest compliment in the world to me," Ollie said. "I am so grateful for the Scouting program that enables them to learn these skills and be a part of a great community of other boys. The troop has done so much to integrate them with their peers. Everyone has been blessed because of it."

The Sept. 17 Court of Honor was held at a meeting house of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alexandria where the family attends church and participates with Boy Scout Troop 601 on Wednesday nights. In addition to receiving the Second Class rank, the Cantos triplets each received two merit badges at the week-long Goshen Boy Scout Camp this summer.

But while the boys are happy with this accomplishment, they say they aren't going to rest until they each become an Eagle Scout, a feat less than five percent of Scouts nationwide accomplish.

High resolution photos of the triplet's Court of Honor are available here.

About Boy Scouts of America & National Capital Area Council

Boy Scouts of America provides the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be Prepared. For Life. ™ The Scouting organization is composed of 2.6 million youth members between the ages of seven and 21 and more than a million volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more, please visit www.Scouting.org.

National Capital Area Council was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and largest councils in America. The Council territory includes the District of Columbia; Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties in Maryland; and in Virginia the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford and Culpeper, the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg; as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information, please visit www.NCACBSA.org.

CONTACT:
Aaron Chusid: 301-529-4091 / [email protected] 
Alisha Stewart: 301-214-9159 / [email protected]

SOURCE Boy Scouts of America & National Capital Area Council