He earned his Eagle Scout on May 5, 1993, almost 15 years ago, but it took this long for Ramon “Monchi” Fierros, Jr., to officially receive his award

Scoutmaster Allen Forkum pins the Eagle Scout medal on Ramon "Monchi" Fierros during the Court of Honor ceremony while Curtis Foster looks on.

It isn’t often that an Eagle Scout graduates from college before his Court of Honor, but that is the way it turned out for Fierros.

“At the time I earned my Eagle, there had been plans to have a Court of Honor; we simply never got to it. I was really busy in those days playing sports and being involved with other activities,” Fierros said.

After graduating from Douglas High School, he attended Cochise College and later the University of Arizona, where he became involved in the ROTC. From there he joined the U.S. Air Force where he is now a pilot and Captain. His next assignment is in Moody Air Force Base in Georgia.

But he came back to Tucson for flight school recently, and on one of his trips home, helped with his old troop. It was then that Scoutmaster Allen Forkum brought up the idea of having the Court of Honor he missed.

Scoutmaster Forkum and assistant Curtis Foster presented Fierros with his Eagle Award during the ceremony held at the Elks Lodge.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank God. Without his divine blessing and guidance, I would not have become the man I am today.

“I would also like to thank my loving parents for their continuous support in all that I aim to accomplish. Thank you Mr. Forkum and Curtis for your guidance and example in helping me become a good man. Thanks for providing me the opportunities to excel in many aspects of life such as leadership, self confidence and perseverance. Many of the successes in life are a product of your support and guidance.

“I will follow in the examples of the Scout Oath and Law for the rest of my life and will teach them to future generations.” Fierros said.

His Eagle Scout project consisted of leading a group of young men into a wilderness backpacking adventure. In one weekend, they restored five miles of the Snowshed Hiking Trail in the Chiricahua Mountains preventing erosion and preserving the trail for many years to come.