Photo by Rick Watson.
1012 Eagle Scout
Representative Paul DeMarco presented a state house resolution to 2012 MBHS graduates Nelson, Taylor and Jonathan Jetmundsen in honor of their Eagle Scout awards.
Fewer than 4 percent of boys who join Boy Scouts will earn the rank of Eagle. But in last year’s graduating senior class in Mountain Brook, 23 boys who started scouts at the same time earned the rank. And three of them were triplets – Nelson, Taylor and Jonathan Jetmundsen.
“They were all good kids, and they’ve become outstanding young men,” said Scoutmaster David Dowd.
Alabama Rep. Paul DeMarco, who represents the Mountain Brook area, knew the importance of the accomplishment. He is an Eagle Scout himself. DeMarco presented the triplets with a Resolution of Recognition from the Alabama House of Representatives for their Eagle Scout accomplishment.
“People skills are the most important things you learn while becoming an Eagle Scout,” DeMarco said. “You can learn academics in college, but when you’re in leadership positions in scouting, that’s what carries over. You learn how to lead; how to work as a team; and how to plan, execute and achieve goals.”
The trio worked through projects ranging from first aid to family life, eventually earning the 21 badges required to make Eagle with the support of their parents, Kelli and Norman.
Work required to earn the Family Life badge was Jonathan’s least favorite, he said, because for six months he had to log all the chores he did.
Young men in the Jetmundsen family said they enjoyed service work most.
“A lot of service work involves projects in parks and places like that,” Taylor said. “You commit time to helping each other do their project work in parks.”
The Jetmundsens built trails and performed other work at Oak Mountain State Park, Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve and other parks in the area.
Nelson’s project involved building a playground in the shape of a boat for Mitchell’s Place, which is a center located on Overton Road for people with autism. As with most projects, this one required a lot of help from the other scouts in their troop, Troop 63 at Canterbury United Methodist Church.
Another highlight of their scout experience was traveling to three High Adventure Bases — Sea Base in Key West, Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico, and the Northern Tier in Minnesota. All three Jetmundsen boys went on the first two High Adventures, but only Taylor tackled the Northern Tier trip, which earned him the Triple Crown designation.
The triplets’ mom, Kelli Jetmundsen, said the most difficult lesson for her to learn was that they were in the Boy Scouts and not the “Mommy Scouts.” When the boys were younger, she fretted a great deal as they prepared for camping trips and other outings, but the Scoutmaster and the boys pointed out that it was their responsibility to make sure they had everything they needed.
This fall, Taylor and Nelson are attending Sewanee College, and Jonathan is attending Washington and Lee. They said filling out college applications was a breeze because the boys could easily document their community service and leadership accomplishments.
The oldest troop in Mountain Brook, Troop 63 started meeting in February 1942. Mountain Brook boys are also members of other troops, including Troops 63, Troop 86, Troop 320 and City of Birmingham-based Troop 28.
