WESTFIELD — The first merit badge Sean McMahon earned as a Boy Scout was for basket weaving. Since then, he’s earned an additional 65 merit badges — a level of success only a few Scouts achieve.
For most scouts, the Eagle badge is the pinnacle of achievement. But McMahon kept going after achieving the top rank. In addition to service project and leadership requirements, scouts are required to earn at least 21 merit badges to qualify for the rank. Additional badges count toward “palms”: a bronze palm for five badges, a gold palm for 10 badges, and a silver palm for 15. McMahon has three silver palms.
