“Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” These are the 12 characteristics that a Scout should possess. For Sallisaw resident Mason Duke, these qualities are not just standards he upholds as an Eagle Scout but also the principles he lives by.

The Eagle Scout, the Boy Scout’s highest rank, is not something that comes easily. Boy Scouts of America states that the rank of Eagle Scout “may be earned by a Scout who has been a Life Scout for at least six months, has earned a minimum of 21 merit badges, has demonstrated Scout Spirit, and has shown leadership within their troop, crew, or ship.”

When Mason, 18, first entered the Boy Scouts, he wasn’t sure if he would one day achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Instead, upon joining the Scouts, he saw the program as something fun and interesting.

“I initially looked at the Boy Scouts and thought it seemed like something fun that I would enjoy doing. Soon I found myself progressing through the program, learning what I needed to complete the next rank, and then the next,” he said.

AT LEFT: Mason Duke, 18, of Sallisaw, received his Eagle Scout on August 24.

He received his Eagle Scout on August 24.

Mason’s parents, Matt and Mirna, note that he has always enjoyed outdoor activities such as building fires, hiking and camping. They also mention that he possesses strong outdoor survival skills and can “sleep anywhere.” Mason learned many of these skills from his grandfather, an avid fisherman and hiker. The entire Duke family shares a love for outdoor activities and has completed several five-mile hikes together.

Mason is a man of many talents and interests. He also enjoys origami, board games, video games, and sports. Now in his senior year of high school, Mason actively participates in the cheer team, wrestling, weightlifting, and plans to join the soccer team. Despite his humility, Mason acknowledges that he has earned numerous trophies and awards.

As a Scout, Mason’s uniform tells the story of his achievements and growth through various patches and pins. On his right arm, he proudly displays the patch he earned from his time at Philmont, while his sash showcases 26 badges representing his accomplishments, including first-aid, welding, financial management, and even scuba diving.

As part of earning the distinction of Eagle Scout, Scouts are required to sponsor a community project. For his project, Mason chose to restore the “Colored Cemetery” in Muldrow, which he describes as “a nationally historical site that had been forgotten and abandoned for over 60 years.”

Initially, Mason thought the project would be straightforward: assemble a crew, clear the brush, and repair a few broken headstones. However, what appeared to be a relatively simple undertaking quickly grew more complex. After researching the site, the crew discovered an old sonar scan indicating at least 80 graves. Many of these graves had stone markers that had sunk into the ground over decades of neglect.

Mason’s dad, Matt, reflects on the project, saying, “The cemetery was such a briar patch we couldn’t even look at it. We thought there were only a dozen graves in there, but we had no idea what Mason was getting into.”

He went on to say that they had to be cautious due to ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, wasps, ground hornets, “and we met every one of them during the project.”

In total, Mason dedicated 500 hours to clear, restore, and repair the cemetery, applying many of the skills he had acquired in Scouts, from welding and safety to communication and citizenship. Today, the cemetery is accessible, restored, and many of the stone markers have been reinstalled. Mason believes that the cemetery is now revitalized and encourages the public and descendants of those buried there to “visit your ancestors at some point in time.”

“His Eagle Project shined a light on some local history and cleaned it up to honor former residents and allow others to visit the area,” Scoutmaster Jeff Mayo said of Mason.

Mason notes that the Scouts have similarities to the military, with various ranks and achievements. And, like in the military, there have been leaders who have had an impact on him: Frankie Sullivan, Matt Bennett, and Mayo. Each one of these leaders, he says, has been a mentor, leader, and role model for him.

“I am very proud to have served as Scoutmaster for a majority of Mason’s scouting journey,” Mayo said. “He is a great young leader, and I am excited to see what he does after high school.”

For a Scout, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout provides many opportunities. Mason says that, as an Eagle Scout, he is eligible to apply for scholarships, and he can use the practical skills he has learned to “get a job just about anywhere.” He plans on attending OSU and pursuing a career as an electrical engineer. He expresses deep gratitude for the significant guidance he has received from Karen Smith, Doug Smith, Keith Orendorff, Tracy Robinette, Jason Blaylock, the Pattons, the Stites, the Walters, and Stanley Douglas.

Now that he is an Eagle Scout, Mason is a leader himself. He encourages younger kids to join the Scouts, emphasizing, “It is a fun time, you get to make some friends, learn a couple of things, and the Scouts can help with things like self-confidence.”

He now joins fellow Eagle Scouts, Myren Osborn, Maddox Mayo, Cale Abbott, Dawson Smith, and Stewart Pierce.

Mason acknowledges that achieving his Eagle Scout rank was made possible through the support of many people. He would like to thank those who have supported him on his journey and pays special tribute to the school board; his parents; Cherokee Councilman Darryl Legg; current Scouts, Jacob Robinette, Landon Burmaster, Mason Blaylock, Eric, Cale Stewart, Asher Orendorff, and Dawson; The Cherokee Nation Cemetery Grant Program; Rus Walsonberg; and his grandparents, Jimmy and Dow Duke.